what are the legal rights for power of attorney

by Jon Goodwin 8 min read

  • Principal Rights. A principal can grant broad powers or limited powers to her agent -- she has the right to restrict these powers on the power of attorney at the ...
  • Agent Rights. A proposed agent has the right to decline to act as an agent, and a current agent has the right to resign for any reason.
  • Principal Responsibilities. A principal must advise the agent of her decisions when she asks him to act on her behalf. Her instructions must be clear.
  • Attorney-in-Fact Responsibilities. The attorney-in-fact is responsible for carrying out the powers honestly and according to the principal's wishes.

A general power of attorney allows the agent to act on behalf of the principal in any matters, as allowed by state laws. The agent under such an agreement may be authorized to handle bank accounts, sign checks, sell property, manage assets, and file taxes for the principal.

Full Answer

What is power of attorney and how does it work?

The POA cannot change or invalidate your Will or any other Estate Planning documents. The POA cannot change or violate the terms of the nominating documents -- otherwise they can be held legally responsible for fraud or negligence. The POA …

What are the rules for power of attorney?

Sep 22, 2021 · Act honestly and in good faith, Exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person, Act within the authority given in the enduring power of attorney and under any enactment, and. Keep prescribed records and produce the prescribed records for inspection and copying at the request of the adult.

What is the purpose of power of attorney?

What Can a Financial Power of Attorney Do? An agent with a valid power of attorney for finances may be able to: Access the principal’s financial accounts to pay for health care, housing needs and other bills. File taxes on behalf of the principal. Make investment decisions on behalf of the principal. Collect the principal’s debts.

What is a legal power of attorney?

The giver, usually called a principal, uses a power of attorney to allow the receiver, called an attorney-in-fact, or agent, to act for her. An attorney-in-fact can receive authority in a number of the principal's affairs, including financial transactions, real estate matters and even gift giving. An attorney-in-fact and principal should be aware of each others rights and responsibilities to …

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What rights do power of attorney have?

A power of attorney gives the attorney the legal authority to deal with third parties such as banks or the local council. Some types of power of attorney also give the attorney the legal power to make a decision on behalf of someone else such as where they should live or whether they should see a doctor.

What three decisions Cannot be made by a legal power of attorney?

Are there any decisions I could not give an attorney power to decide? You cannot give an attorney the power to: act in a way or make a decision that you cannot normally do yourself – for example, anything outside the law. consent to a deprivation of liberty being imposed on you, without a court order.

Can a family member override a power of attorney?

The Principal can override either type of POA whenever they want. However, other relatives may be concerned that the Agent (in most cases a close family member like a parent, child, sibling, or spouse) is abusing their rights and responsibilities by neglecting or exploiting their loved one.Nov 3, 2019

What is the rule of power of attorney?

Every act performed by the agent within the authority of the Power of Attorney is legally binding upon the persons granting it. A power of attorney must be given only to a trustworthy person, and only when it is absolutely necessary.

Does next of kin override power of attorney?

No. The term next of kin is in common use but a next of kin has no legal powers, rights or responsibilities.

Can I sell my mother's house with power of attorney?

Answer: Those appointed under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can sell property on behalf the person who appointed them, provided there are no restrictions set out in the LPA. You can sell your mother's house as you and your sister were both appointed to act jointly and severally.Apr 2, 2014

Can you challenge power of attorney?

You may wish to dispute a Power of Attorney if you consider the power has been granted to the wrong person or the individual did not have the necessary capacity to make the power of attorney. You may also have concerns that an attorney's actions are not in the best interests of the individual.Sep 13, 2017

Who makes decisions if no power of attorney?

If you have not given someone authority to make decisions under a power of attorney, then decisions about your health, care and living arrangements will be made by your care professional, the doctor or social worker who is in charge of your treatment or care.Mar 30, 2020

Can an attorney revoke power of attorney?

A power of attorney can be revoked at any time, regardless of the termination date specified in the document, as long as the donor is mentally capable. (Note: there are some exceptions, but these apply only to "binding" Powers of Attorney.

Can power of attorney holder sell property to himself?

when a registered PoA authorizes the agent to make the transaction, he can certainly do so however, it does require the free will of the original owner. If the Power of Attorney holder is following all the legal procedures then he cannot be barred by law from selling the property to himself.

How long is a power of attorney valid for?

It must be signed by the grantor and 2 witnesses and will remain valid until such time as it is revoked, when the mandate is completed or where the agent or grantor passed away, is sequestrated or becomes mentally unfit.Aug 28, 2019

Are old power of attorneys still valid?

To summarise, an Enduring Power of Attorney is still likely to be valid but may well be out of date. It will certainly need to be reviewed and consideration should be given to entering into new Lasting Powers of Attorney, both financial and health and welfare.Apr 21, 2020

What is POA in elder law?

A reputable elder law attorney can discuss your desires and concerns and devise POA documents that clearly explain the extent of powers you want your agent (s) to have and any limitations they must abide by. ...

What is the POA Act?

The Uniform POA Act. Each state has statutes that govern how power of attorney documents are written and interpreted. This can complicate matters when a principal decides what powers to give to their agent and when an agent tries to determine what actions are legally within their power.

How to file a POA?

What a Financial POA Can Do: 1 Access the principal’s financial accounts to pay for health care, housing needs and other bills. 2 File taxes on behalf of the principal. 3 Make investment decisions on behalf of the principal. 4 Collect the principal’s debts. 5 Manage the principal’s property. 6 Apply for public benefits for the principal, such as Medicaid, veterans benefits, etc.

Why is POA important?

According to geriatric care manager and certified elder law attorney, Buckley Anne Kuhn-Fricker, JD, this provision is important because it gives a principal the flexibility to decide how involved they want their agent to be while they are still in possession of their faculties. For example, a financial agent could handle the day-to-day tasks of paying bills and buying food, while the principal continues to make their own investment and major purchasing decisions.

What is POA document?

POA documents allow a person (the principal) to decide in advance whom they trust and want to act on their behalf should they become incapable of making decisions for themselves. The person who acts on behalf of the principal is called the agent. From there, it is important to distinguish between the two main types of POA: medical and financial. ...

What is a POA in medical terms?

A medical POA (also known as health care POA) gives a trustworthy friend or family member (the agent) the ability to make decisions about the care the principal receives if they are incapacitated. A financial POA gives an agent the ability to make financial decisions on behalf of the principal. It is common to appoint one person to act as an agent ...

What medical care does a principal receive?

What medical care the principal receives, including hospital care, surgery, psychiatric treatment, home health care , etc. (These choices are dependent on the financial means of the principal and the approval of their financial agent.) Which doctors and care providers the principal uses. Where the principal lives.

What is the power of attorney for a principal?

The giver, usually called a principal, uses a power of attorney to allow the receiver, called an attorney-in-fact, or agent, to act for her. An attorney-in-fact can receive authority in a number of the principal's affairs, including financial transactions, real estate matters and even gift giving. An attorney-in-fact and principal should be aware ...

What is the attorney in fact?

The attorney-in-fact is responsible for carrying out the powers honestly and according to the principal's wishes. She must not use the power of attorney for anything other than what the document allows and notify the principal when she completes actions on her behalf. An attorney-in-fact should keep a written log of her activity on behalf of the principal to protect herself legally; the court or the principal can ask her to account for her actions at any time. The principal typically makes decisions and the attorney-in-fact carries them out. Some actions, such as signing the principal's will, are not allowed under most state laws, even if the document gives the attorney-in-fact power in that area. An attorney-in-fact should check state laws regarding powers to make sure she's taking an illegal action because she is responsible for knowing what she's allowed to do.#N#Read More: Power of Attorney Responsibilities

What is the principal's duty?

A principal must advise the agent of her decisions when she asks him to act on her behalf. Her instructions must be clear. If she's vague, the agent might not be held responsible for her losses in court if he makes a mistake. The principal must notify the attorney-in-fact and other persons or businesses that have the power of attorney on file, such as banks, if the powers are revoked. If she fails to follow through on this obligation when she ends the powers, the attorney-in-fact and other parties might not be liable for actions that occur after the revocation date.

Can a principal revoke a power of attorney?

The principal decides if the powers go into effect immediately, or only if she can't make her own decisions because of incapacitation. The principal can also revoke the power of attorney at any time.

When is a POA effective?

The POA is effective as soon as the principal signs it. The principal may use a POA to authorize the agent to do one specific legal act or do many specific legal acts. A POA that limits the agent to perform a specific act is called a “Limited Power of Attorney.”. For example, suppose you recently moved to Florida from Alabama where you own a home.

How to terminate a POA?

A POA automatically terminates when: 1 The principal dies; 2 The principal revokes the POA in writing; 3 A court finds that the principal is totally or partially incapacitated and does not specifically decide that the POA is to remain in force; 4 The purpose of the POA has been achieved; or 5 The term of the POA expires.

What is POA in Florida?

As an introduction, a POA is a document by which one person, or “principal,” gives authority to another person, or “agent,” to act on behalf of the principal. Under Florida law, a properly executed POA requires: Two people to witness the principal’s signature; and. A notary to acknowledge the principal’s signature.

How old do you have to be to be an agent?

Any person who is at least 18 years old and of sound mind and body may serve as an agent, but he or she is not obligated to serve. However, once an agent exercises a power granted by the POA, he or she has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the principal.

What is a surrogate declaration?

It’s important to distinguish a Health Care Surrogate Designation (HCSD) and a Declaration of Living Will (DLW) from a durable POA. These are documents made in advance of incapacity or necessity. An HCSD is a document in which the principal designates another person to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal if he or she is unable to make those decisions. A DLW is document that specifies a person’s wishes as to the administration of medical treatment when he or she is diagnosed with a terminal illness or is in a persistent vegetative state.

When is a durable POA valid?

A durable POA remains valid even if the principal becomes incapacitated, but it is not effective until a doctor certifies the principal’s incapacity. A durable POA must contain special language that allows it to survive the incapacity of the principal. Durable Powers of Attorney may not be created after September 30, 2011.

Is a POA valid in Florida?

A POA properly executed under the laws of another state are also valid in Florida. Note that if an out-of-state POA is used to convey real property in Florida, that POA must have been executed with two witnesses and a notarized acknowledgement even if those are not requirements in the state of execution.

Types of Power of Attorney Arrangements in Tampa, Florida

Power of attorney in Tampa, Florida takes 3 main forms. Which one is appropriate for you depends on your individual case. They are:

Can a Tampa, Florida Lawyer Help?

Because there are sometimes perplexing issues involved in setting up power of attorney in Tampa, Florida, you should consult with a lawyer beforehand. You can tell the lawyer all of the relevant details about your particular situation, and your goals, and he or she will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Life in Tampa

Tampa is the seat of Hillsboro County, Florida. Tampa is home to nearly 350,000 residents including a number of professional athletes who play on local Tampa based teams. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers who won Super Bowl XXXVII champions in 2002 play at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa is also home to the Tampa Bay Lightning professional NHL hockey team.

Assistance with Tampa Power of Attorney Documents

In Florida, an individual can create a legal document that allows another person (the attorney-in-fact) to act on their behalf. This legal tool, called a Power of Attorney (POA), authorizes that other person to take action in certain circumstances. You have control over how much authority your agent is given, and what actions they can take.

Types of POAs

There are many different types of POAs. The best choice for you will depend on your goals. For example, you may want to designate someone to make medical decisions in the event of an accident. Or, you may want to give authority to your friend to make a financial transaction in your name.

Who Should Create a POA?

It is always tempting to focus on the present, rather than anticipating any difficult or frightening situations in the future. However, thinking about how your future will be affected if tragedy strikes is important. You do not want to leave your family guessing what your wishes are if you become incapacitated.

Call Our Tampa Power of Attorney Lawyer for Help

If you live in the Tampa area and have questions regarding Powers of Attorney, contact David Toback, Attorney at Law. With over 17 years of legal experience, he has handled many types of POA and estate planning matters. No matter what your situation, David Toback can guide your through your legal options. Contact him today at (813) 252-7529.

What is an advisory opinion in Florida?

The first request for an advisory opinion under the new rule came from an unusual source, the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS), which requested a formal advisory opinion as to whether its nonlawyer counselors (social workers) could prepare and file pleadings and appear in court on behalf of HRS in uncontested dependency court cases. After holding two public hearings, the Standing Committee on UPL issued a proposed advisory opinion concluding that HRS counselors were engaged in the unlicensed practice of law. HRS objected to the opinion, briefs were filed, and on October 12, 1987, the court heard oral argument.

When did the Florida Supreme Court issue advisory opinions?

On February 1988, the Florida Supreme Court began issuing advisory opinions as to whether non- lawyer conduct constitutes the unlicensed practice of law (UPL). After 10 years of UPL advisory opinions, certain trends in the law have crystallized.

What is a simplified form in Florida?

The Florida Supreme Court has adopted simplified legal forms in several areas for use by members of the public wishing to provide legal services for themselves. The court permits nonlawyers to assist in the completion of these forms, and also permits limited oral communications between nonlawyers and their customers. In its Notice to Owner opinion, the court allowed those same oral communications even though the notice to owner and notice to contractor forms were not adopted as Florida Supreme Court approved forms.

When did Florida adopt simplified family law forms?

In 1991, the Florida Supreme Court adopted an extensive set of simplified family law forms designed to be used by pro se litigants. These forms were approved in order to encourage greater access to the courts. In Re Rules Regulating The Florida Bar Approval of Forms, 581 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 1991). Currently the Rules of Court book contains more than 500 pages of forms with instructions for their use. See 1998 Florida Rules of Court 743–1252 (West Group 1998).

Can non-lawyers have expertise?

Several of the requests for advisory opinions addressed by the court in the past 10 years have dealt with the fact that nonlawyers can, and often do, have expertise in law related fields which make them competent to perform certain tasks which are considered the practice of law. This issue did not come up in the HRS Nonlawyer Counselor case because the HRS counselors admittedly had no law related training or expertise.

Can non-lawyers get into hot water?

Non-lawyers can get into serious legal hot water if they attempt to pass themselves off as lawyers. The reasons are self-evident. But how do you define the so-called Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL)? Why do people engage in this practice? What punishments might they incur?

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Limited vs. General

  • The POA is effective as soon as the principal signs it. The principal may use a POA to authorize the agent to do one specific legal act or do many specific legal acts. A POA that limits the agent to perform a specific act is called a “Limited Power of Attorney.” For example, suppose you recently moved to Florida from Alabama where you own a home. You may use a limited POA to …
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Durable Poa

  • The principal must be competent to sign a POA. A POA is no longer effective if the principal becomes incapacitated, unless it is a “Durable Power of Attorney” that was executed before October 1, 2011. A durable POA remains valid even if the principal becomes incapacitated, but it is not effective until a doctor certifies the principal’s incapacity. A durable POA must contain speci…
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Advanced Care Directives

  • It’s important to distinguish a Health Care Surrogate Designation (HCSD) and a Declaration of Living Will (DLW) from a durable POA. These are documents made in advance of incapacity or necessity. An HCSD is a document in which the principal designates another person to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal if he or she is unable to make those decisions. A …
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Advanced Care Directives vs. Durable Poa

  • An HCSD appointee has no power to act until the principal’s doctor has determined that the principal does not have the ability to make informed health care decisions. However, a durable POA specific to health care may allow the agent to assist the principal in health care decisions even though the principal may not completely lack capacity. Even if a person has a DLW, a perso…
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Agent vs. Principal

  • Any person who is at least 18 years old and of sound mind and body may serve as an agent, but he or she is not obligated to serve. However, once an agent exercises a power granted by the POA, he or she has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the principal. This means the agent must fulfill the principal’s reasonable expectations and desires, make wise investments and use …
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Third Parties vs. Poa

  • Sometimes third parties refuse to accept a POA out of concern that it is not valid for one reason or another, and they want to avoid liability for accepting an invalid document. Third parties must provide the agent a written explanation for refusing within a reasonable time (four days for financial institutions) after the POA is presented to the third party. Third parties are permitted to …
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Out-Of-State Poa

  • A POA properly executed under the laws of another state are also valid in Florida. Note that if an out-of-state POA is used to convey real property in Florida, that POA must have been executed with two witnesses and a notarized acknowledgement even if those are not requirements in the state of execution. A military POA is valid in Florida if properly executed under federal law.
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Termination of Poa

  • A POA automatically terminates when: 1. The principal dies; 2. The principal revokes the POA in writing; 3. A court finds that the principal is totally or partially incapacitated and does not specifically decide that the POA is to remain in force; 4. The purpose of the POA has been achieved; or 5. The term of the POA expires.
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Consult The Tampa “Power of Attorney” Lawyers at Lieser Skaff Alexander

  • If you need to draft, change, protect, revoke or dispute a POA, consult our firm to ensure your legal rights are protected. If you are unsure whether you are authorized to do a particular act, talk with us before taking any action that could subject you to liability. If a third party is refusing to accept a POA or is unreasonably delaying acceptance, ask our firm for guidance on what recourse can b…
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