if i have a durable power of attorney do we need to go to court or probate when my mother passes

by Ressie Labadie 10 min read

If mother has sufficient capacity, she may execute POA appointing you as her agent. Court will not order her to execute POA. You may petition court to be appointed mother's conservator if she does not have capacity, or is unwilling to execute POA.

Even if your mother's will were to have passed away without a will, their property must still go through the probate process to transfer ownership correctly.

Full Answer

Can I execute a power of attorney on my mother?

 · A power of attorney is almost never "filed" with any court, and unless it has to do with real property it is not recorded with the County Recorder. In California, a petition can be filed under Probate Code Section 4941 to compel a third party to accept an agent's authority. While the US Government is probably immune from damages, others can be liable for attorneys' fees if …

What happens to power of attorney when a parent dies?

Also, a durable power of attorney doesn't "avoid probate." The only thing a power of attorney does is give someone the power to act for your father in the event he is incapacitated. It sounds like the attorney may have done more than simply draft …

Can a family member be assigned as a durable power of attorney?

 · A power of attorney, also called a POA, is a document that appoints a person (an agent) to act on another's (the principal's) behalf.1 Agents have the power to make important legal, financial, and health decisions on behalf of the principal. An agent is often a caregiver, family member, or close friend, and sometimes it's an attorney.

Can a durable power of attorney change a will?

 · The person is required to act in your best interests. Most states offer simple forms to help you create a power of attorney for finances. Generally, the document must be signed, witnessed and notarized by an adult. If your agent will have to deal with real estate assets, some states require you to put the document on file in the local land ...

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?

It depends on the state, since each state has its own rules for validating a power of attorney. Some require two witnesses and no notary, some requ...

How much does a power of attorney cost?

The cost for a power of attorney varies, depending on how you obtain the form and your state’s notary requirements. Online forms may be free, and y...

How many people can be listed on a power of attorney?

You can name multiple agents on your power of attorney, but you will need to specify how the agents should carry out their shared or separate duties.

What are the requirements to be a power of attorney agent?

Legally, an agent must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind.4 You should also choose someone you trust to act in your best interests.

When should I create a power of attorney?

You can create a power of attorney at any point after you turn 18. You need to create a power of attorney while you’re of sound mind.

Do you have to file a durable power of attorney with the court?

Follow Ms. Brewers advice. A Durable Power of Attorney does not have to be filed with the court. One of the reasons for having one is to avoid having to involve the court.

Can a power of attorney be filed in California?

I agree with the other respondents. A power of attorney is almost never " filed" with any court, and unless it has to do with real property it is not recorded with the County Recorder. In California, a petition can be filed under Probate Code Section 4941 to compel a third party to accept an agent's authority. While the US Government is probably immune from damages, others can be liable for attorneys' fees if they unreasonably refuse to accept the power of attorney, although such actions are rare.#N#More

What is durable power of attorney?

Drafting a durable power of attorney is an act of love: By detailing how you want matters regarding your health and finances handled in the event of an emergency, you are sparing your family and friends the unpleasant task of making such decisions in a stressful time.

When does a power of attorney end?

The power of attorney for finances is typically extinguished upon death, revocation, or divorce.

What is a power of attorney for healthcare?

Power of Attorney for Healthcare. The power of attorney for healthcare designates the person who will make medical decisions for you in an emergency. Even though you may have set out your wishes in your living will, such documents cannot cover every circumstance.

How old do you have to be to get a power of attorney?

In order to create a power of attorney for healthcare, most states only require that you be an adult (typically 18) and be competent when you create the document. This document takes effect when your doctor declares that you lack the "capacity" to make your own health care decisions.

Do you need a power of attorney to act in your best interest?

The person is required to act in your best interests. Most states offer simple forms to help you create a power of attorney for finances. Generally, the document must be signed, witnessed and notarized by an adult.

When does a power of attorney end?

The power of attorney ends when the individual dies (or when specified in the document)

Who is responsible for the estate after death?

After their death, responsibility for the estate passes to the executors named in the will. Or if there isn’t a valid will in place, to the deceased’s closest living relative (who for the purposes of probate is called the administrator). The executor or administrator must prove that they have the legal authority to deal with the estate.

What does the executor of an estate have to do?

The executor or administrator must prove that they have the legal authority to deal with the estate. To do this, they must go through the probate process. This ensures that the correct person is administering the deceased person’s estate.

Do you need probate after death?

This is quite common, as often the person trusted to deal with someone’s affairs during their lifetime is the person trusted to do the same after their death. But even if you had power of attorney and you now find yourself as the executor or administrator, probate may still be needed. This is because your loved one has now died, ...

Do you need a power of attorney after you die?

The fact that you had power of attorney during someone’s lifetime doesn’t have any bearing on whether or not probate is needed after they die. Whether probate is needed will depend on what the person owned when they died owned.

Does a power of attorney work when someone dies?

However, it doesn’t work like that. Think of it this way – power of attorney deals with events that happen while your loved one is alive, and will no longer have effect when they die. So while you may be responsible for your loved one’s affairs during their lifetime, this will end at the moment of their death.

Does a power of attorney have to be probated?

So the fact that you had power of attorney has no influence over whether or not probate is needed. Instead, this will depend on what assets the deceased owned, and whether these assets were owned in their sole name.

What is a power of attorney?

Powers of attorney are key estate planning documents. In the unfortunate event that you become unable to care for yourself, it is crucial that you grant a trusted party the authority to effectively make legal, financial, and medical decisions on your behalf. Through two key estate planning documents — the durable power of attorney and ...

Can a girlfriend be a power of attorney?

Can a Girlfriend Be a Power of Attorney? Yes. Any trusted person can serve as a power of attorney. They do not have to be a legal relative.

Can a power of attorney change a beneficiary?

Can a Power of Attorney Change a Life Insurance Beneficiary? Yes — but the agent always has a fiduciary duty to act in good faith. If your power of attorney is making such a change, it must be in your best interests. If they do not act in your interests, they are violating their duties.

Can a convicted felon have a power of attorney in Texas?

Can a Convicted Felon Have Power of Attorney? Yes. Texas law does not prevent a convicted felon from having a power of attorney. A mentally competent person has the authority to select who they want to serve as their power of attorney.

Can a durable power of attorney be changed?

Can a Durable Power of Attorney Be Changed? Yes. A durable power of attorney is a flexible legal document. As long as a person is mentally competent, they can change — even revoke — power of attorney.

Can a doctor override a power of attorney?

Yes — but only in limited circumstances. If an advance medical directive is in place, the instructions in that document may override the decision of a power of attorney. Additionally, doctors may also refuse to honor a power of attorney’s decision if they believe that the agent is not acting in the best interest of the patient.

Can a power of attorney keep family away?

Can Power of Attorney Keep Family Away? Yes — at least in certain circumstances . With medical power of attorney, an agent can make health-related decisions for the principal. This could include keeping family members away.

What is a medical power of attorney?

What is a Medical (Health Care) Power of Attorney? Medical powers of attorney (sometimes called a health care power of attorney, advance directive, or health care proxy depending on your state) permit an agent to make a principal’s health care decisions in the event that they are unable.

What are the two types of powers of attorney?

To clear things up, we’ll explain the two most common types of powers of attorney and the differences between each — durable (financial), and medical — as well as why you’ll need both to protect your assets and medical wishes.

How long do powers stay in effect?

Once powers have been granted, they will remain in effect until their powers are revoked, the contract expires (if an expiration date exists), or until the principal expires. Here’s a list of common matters for which an agent may be responsible to maintain on behalf of the principal: Banking – Deposits and withdrawals.

What does it mean if you don't have a POA?

The absence of a durable and/or medical POA can mean that family members will not be able to access accounts to pay for healthcare, taxes, insurance, utilities, and other important matters, and they won’t have clear instructions as to how to care for you if you should be faced with incapacitation.

What do I need for an estate plan?

What Else Do I Need for My Estate Plan? 1 Living Will – usually paired with a medical power of attorney. If this form isn’t included, you’ll want to create one as it puts your medical wishes into writing. 2 Last Will and Testament – designates who gets what upon your passing

Why does the principal have no say in who is appointed?

First, the principal has no say in who is appointed, because appointment will happen after an event of incapacitation. Often, the court will choose a single conservator to handle both financial and medical matters. Second, the process is costly, lengthy, and very draining and stressful for all involved.

What is a living will?

Living Will – usually paired with a medical power of attorney. If this form isn’t included, you’ll want to create one as it puts your medical wishes into writing. Last Will and Testament – designates who gets what upon your passing.

What does POA mean in a power of attorney?

The POA gave you the authority to act on his behalf in a number of financial situations, such as buying or selling a property for him or maybe just paying his bills.

Who can deal with a POA?

His estate owns it, so only the executor or the administrator of his estate can deal with it during the probate process. 1 .

What happens if your parent names you as co-owner of his bank account?

But if your parent listed you as co-owner of his bank account or even on the deed to his home, giving you "rights of survivorship," the account or the property passes automatically and directly to you at his death. Probate of these assets would not be necessary. 8

What happens if you don't leave a will?

When There's Not a Will. The deceased's property must still pass through probate to accomplish the transfer of ownership, even if he didn't leave a will . The major difference is that his property will pass according to state law rather than according to his wishes as explained in a will. 3 .

Who is the executor of a deceased person's estate?

The two roles are divided by the event of the death. In some cases, however, the agent in the POA might also be named as executor or administrator of the estate.

When do you have to file a will for your parents?

Your parent's will must, therefore, be filed with the probate court shortly after his death if he held a bank account or any other property in his sole name. This begins the probate process to legally distribute his property to his living beneficiaries.

Do you need probate for a small estate?

Some very small estates don 't require probate, or your parent might have used a living trust as her estate-planning method rather than a last will and testament so probate would not be required. 5  A successor trustee would take over after the deceased's death if he left a revocable living trust, but these exceptions are limited. 6 

Can a mother execute a POA?

If mother has sufficient capacity, she may execute POA appointing you as her agent.

Can you go to court for a dementia guardianship?

No, you gave to go to court to get a dementia guardianship . Hire probate attorney. All of Ms. Straus’ responses are intended as useful information, based solely upon the facts stated in the question, and are not to be relied upon as a full or complete legal opinion.