The authority of a power of attorney is in effect as long as the person who granted the authority is alive. Can More Than One Person Have the Power of Attorney? The short answer is yes. You can have two, three, or ten people as your agents if that’s what you want.
The powers granted to an agent with a Power of Attorney will vary depending on the type of POA and any limitations that the principal chooses to include in the POA. General and Durable Power of Attorneys allows the agent to perform just about any action on behalf of a principal.
There are generally four ways these privileges may be granted:
The authority of a power of attorney is in effect as long as the person who granted the authority is alive. Can More Than One Person Have the Power of Attorney? The short answer is yes. You can have two, three, or ten people as your agents if that’s what you want. The real question is—should you?
There are different reasons why someone would wish to get power of attorney, such as:
There is no limit to the number of people you can name as an attorney when making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). You can also name replacement attorneys who can step in if one of the original attorneys becomes unable or unwilling to act.
You can appoint just 1 attorney, or more than 1 attorney, to act: "jointly" – they must always make decisions together. "jointly and severally" – they have to make some decisions together and some individually.
General power of attorney With a general power of attorney, you authorize your agent to act for you in all situations allowed by local law. This includes legal, financial, health, and business matters. General POAs can be durable or non-durable, depending on your preferences.
Yes, you can name more than one person on your durable power of attorney, but our law firm generally advise against it under most circumstances. First, there is no legal reason why you cannot name more than one person as your power of attorney - you can name 10 people if you want.
Generally speaking, while it is good to include your spouse or siblings, consider the fact that they may not be around or have the inclination to sort out your wishes when the time comes. If possible, include two attorneys as standard and a third as a back-up should one of the attorneys not be able to act.
Generally speaking, there are three main types of POA: Ordinary power of attorney. Lasting power of attorney. Enduring power of attorney.
principalA power of attorney (POA) is a legal contract that gives a person (agent) the ability to act on behalf of someone (principal) and make decisions for them. Short answer: The principal who is still of sound mind can always override a power of attorney.
There are different types of power of attorney and you can set up more than one.Ordinary power of attorney.Lasting power of attorney (LPA)Enduring power of attorney (EPA)
The POA gives the attorney in fact (also known as the agent) the power to make decisions about your affairs. The type of POA you create dictates which affairs you are granting power over.
A health care power of attorney grants your agent authority to make medical decisions for you if you are unconscious, mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make decisions on your own. While not the same thing as a living will, many states allow you to include your preference about being kept on life support.
Power of attorney is essential in the event that you're incapacitated or not physically present to make decisions on your own behalf. Learn more in our in-depth guide.
If you think your mental capability may be questioned, have a doctor verify it in writing. If your power of attorney doesn't specify requirements for determining mental competency, your agent will still need a written doctor's confirmation of your incompetence in order to do business on your behalf. A court may even be required to decide the ...
Some POAs take effect immediately after they're signed, and others only kick in after you're incapacitated.
Trust is a key factor when choosing an agent for your power of attorney. Whether the agent selected is a friend, relative, organization, or attorney, you need someone who will look out for your best interests, respect your wishes, and won't abuse the powers granted to him or her. It is important for an agent to keep accurate records ...
No power of attorney document is legally binding before it's signed and executed according to the laws of your state. This means that no agent can make decisions on your behalf before the POA document goes into effect. You must also be of sound mind when you appoint an agent. You can view more about the creation of a power of attorney in the infographic below.
Generally, the law of the state in which you reside at the time you sign a power of attorney will govern the powers and actions of your agent under that document.
Today, most states permit a "durable" power of attorney that remains valid once signed until you die or revoke the document.
You may wish to choose a family member to act on your behalf. Many people name their spouses or one or more children. In naming more than one person to act as agent at the same time, be alert to the possibility that all may not be available to act when needed, or they may not agree. The designation of co-agents should indicate whether you wish to have the majority act in the absence of full availability and agreement. Regardless of whether you name co-agents, you should always name one or more successor agents to address the possibility that the person you name as agent may be unavailable or unable to act when the time comes.
In addition to managing your day-to-day financial affairs, your attorney-in-fact can take steps to implement your estate plan. Although an agent cannot revise your will on your behalf, some jurisdictions permit an attorney-in-fact to create or amend trusts for you during your lifetime, or to transfer your assets to trusts you created. Even without amending your will or creating trusts, an agent can affect the outcome of how your assets are distributed by changing the ownership (title) to assets. It is prudent to include in the power of attorney a clear statement of whether you wish your agent to have these powers.
Another important reason to use power of attorney is to prepare for situations when you may not be able to act on your own behalf due to absence or incapacity. Such a disability may be temporary, for example, due to travel, accident, or illness, or it may be permanent.
A power of attorney allows you to choose who will act for you and defines his or her authority and its limits, if any.
There are no special qualifications necessary for someone to act as an attorney-in-fact except that the person must not be a minor or otherwise incapacitated. The best choice is someone you trust. Integrity, not financial acumen, is often the most important trait of a potential agent.
A general power of attorney gives your agent broad power to act on your behalf — making any financial, business, real estate, and legal decisions that would otherwise be your responsibility. For example: 1 managing banking transactions 2 buying and selling property 3 paying bills 4 entering contracts
A springing (or conditional) power of attorney only goes into effect if a certain event or medical condition (typically incapacitation) or event specified in the POA occurs. For example, military personnel may draft a springing power of attorney that goes into effect when they’re deployed overseas.
A power of attorney, or POA, is an estate planning document used to appoint an agent to manage your affairs. There are several different types of power of attorney. Each serves a different purpose and grants varying levels of authority to your agent.
A durable power of attorney ends automatically when you die. You can rescind a durable POA using a revocation of power of attorney form as long as you’re competent.
A medical power of attorney becomes effective immediately after you’ve signed it, but can only be used if you’ve been declared mentally incompetent by physician (s). Once you’ve selected an agent, make sure they know how to sign as power of attorney on your behalf. 3. General Power of Attorney.
Given the extensive control it affords your agent, you may only want to use this kind of power of attorney for a short period when you physically or mentally cannot manage your affairs. For example, during an extended period of travel outside of the country.
The powers granted under a general power of attorney may be restricted by state statutes.
But, the principal can also specify that the power of attorney goes into effect only upon the occurrence of some triggering event. In other words, it “springs” into effect at a later date, if ever. The triggering event can be something as simple as the principal’s reaching a certain age or when a certain calendar date oc-curs. It can also be much more specific, such as if and when a doctor certifies that the principal has become incapacitated. These kinds of springing powers of attorney enable individuals to keep control over their affairs unless and until they become incapacitated, when it springs into effect. They are also known as durable powers of attorney.
A special power of attorney, also known as a limited power of attorney, is created to empower an agent to perform a specific act or acts. For example, if the principal is unable to do it himself, he can prepare a special power of attorney so that the agent can complete the purchase or sale of real estate. Most powers of attorney carefully define and enumerate the scope of the agent’s authority. Thus, most powers of attorney are limited powers of attorney.
In addition to the principal’s death, a durable power of attorney will end if any of the following applies: The principal revokes it.
Because of their potential utility to individuals who lack capacity after executing them, durable powers of attorney are arguably the most important form of these versatile legal documents. Durable powers of attorney are intended to address cases wherein which the following applies:
In Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, if the principal’s spouse is also the agent and the two get a divorce, the authority of principal’s former spouse-agent is automatically terminated by statute. In any state, however, it is wise to revoke a durable power ...
On the other hand, a power of attorney may state explicitly that it is to remain in effect and not be limited by any future mental incapacity of the principal. A power of attorney with this sort ...
Because of the great harm to the principal’s financial well-being that an incompetent or untrustworthy agent can cause with a general power of attorney, the principal should be extremely careful in choosing an agent. Additionally, the principal should maintain vigilance over the agent’s transactions in the principal’s behalf.
They cease at death. A power of attorney loses all authority at the moment of death.
There are powers of attorney that are limited in time. There are also powers of attorney that are no longer valid if you become incapacitated.
A power of attorney is always able to be revoked or amended. As long as you have the capacity to make appropriate legal decisions on your own behalf, then you have the right to make changes to your power of attorney document. If you do not believe that the document is in keeping with your wishes, then you should certainly consult ...
A power of attorney does not remove your power to act, it just authorizes someone else to also act under the limitations that you have placed. It is not the same as a conservatorship, where a court removes your power to act and places that power in the hands of another. They are fully revocable.
At times, it is very easy to unintentionally get yourself in trouble through the use of a power of attorney. The guiding north star for any agent should always be to act solely in the best interests of the person who granted the power of attorney. You cannot use the power of attorney to provide any benefit to yourself.
They are typically able to engage in such actions, without your direct oversight, because the document allows for that. There are many different types. People often think that one power of attorney document is like all others. This is simply not the case. There are powers of attorney that are limited to healthcare.
Answer: When you make or change a durable power of attorney for finances, you are allowed to name more than one agent (or "attorney-in-fact," as this person is known in some states). If your aunt wants to name both niece and nephew, she may do so, but she will have to decide how they should carry out their duties.
She can give them each independent authority, which means that either can take care of any financial task authorized by the power of attorney document without consulting the other. Or she can require them to reach agreement before taking any action under the document.
I am not a NC attorney but I would surmise that the rules are the same on this issue in most states. You may have 3 co-agents under a POA. Personally I think it is somewhat unwieldy but I do not think there is any prohibition against it. Of course, the principal (your mother) has the final say as it is her choice...
You want to be added, but as all of my colleagues have said, unfortunately it isn't your choice. The POA is your mother's and with that, the role of "agent" or "person (s) who hold (s) the Power" is given by your mom.
It is unclear to me whether your siblings are "joint agents" under the power of attorney, or if you are saying that each has a separate power of attorney for your relative. The latter can be very confusing. Presumably, there is a reason you have not been given this responsibility, either...
Remember, your power of attorney is for financial and legal decision making while your health care decisions are subject to your advance directives.
The reason why we do advise more than one is in the event of a conflict. With multiple named attorneys-in-fact, there is always the ability for people to conflict on decisions. Conflicts may mean paralysis as each decisionmaker can overrule the other and the only way out would typically be a guardianship proceeding.
If you do not do things the right way, the power of attorney may not be able to prevent a guardianship, so think about things thoroughly!
Yes, you can name more than one person on your durable power of attorney, but our law firm generally advise against it under most circumstances. First, there is no legal reason why you cannot name more than one person as your power of attorney - you can name 10 people if you want.
For instance, you name your financially savvy daughter as your power of attorney but your son who is in the medical field as your designation of health care surrogate. This way, one can pay the bills while the other can do all the doctor/care management work. A lot of factors go into the decisionmaking of who to choose as your health care surrogate.