FindLaw Newsletters Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life
Code Section | Alabama Code Section 26-1-2: Durable Pow ... |
Agent Authority | Agents can authorize the providing, with ... |
Legal Requirements for Durable Power of ... | The durable power of attorney must desig ... |
Revocation of Durable Power of Attorney | It’s possible to revoke your Durable Pow ... |
Validity from State-to-State | These health care directives prepared in ... |
7 rows · Mar 08, 2021 · Alabama Durable Power of Attorney Laws. Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors ...
Generally speaking, a durable power of attorney is the person that will take on the responsibility for all of your decision-making should you become mentally incapacitated.
Feb 01, 2022 · What Is A Durable Power Of Attorney In Alabama? When a durable power of attorney is in place, you are able to make your own legal decisions on behalf of your loved ones. states have state laws governing how a durable power of attorney should be made, with the exception that it can be revoked at any time.
The durable power of attorney is a legal document that you execute prior to your losing capacity due to illness or injury later in life that appoints an agent to handle your affairs in your place. Formation. First, you must be competent to sign it.
General: Alabama has adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act and may be found in Ala. ... Execution: This power of attorney must be in writing, signed by the principal, dated and notarized. The Principal should sign the power of attorney in the presence of the notary or other person taking the acknowledgment.
Powers of attorney must be signed and notarized to work.Jun 2, 2021
It can be used to give another person the authority to make health care decisions, do financial transactions, or sign legal documents that the Principal cannot do for one reason or another.
General Durable Power of Attorney Definition A general durable power of attorney both authorizes someone to act in a wide range of legal and business matters and remains in effect even if you are incapacitated. The document is also known as a durable power of attorney for finances.Jul 13, 2021
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. In order to make a power of attorney, you must be capable of making decisions for yourself.
Do I need a lawyer to prepare a Power of Attorney? There is no legal requirement that a Power of Attorney be prepared or reviewed by a lawyer. However, if you are going to give important powers to an agent, it is wise to get individual legal advice before signing a complicated form.
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.
AgeLab outlines very well the four types of power of attorney, each with its unique purpose:General Power of Attorney. ... Durable Power of Attorney. ... Special or Limited Power of Attorney. ... Springing Durable Power of Attorney.Jun 2, 2017
An ordinary power of attorney is only valid while you have the mental capacity to make your own decisions. If you want someone to be able to act on your behalf if there comes a time when you don't have the mental capacity to make your own decisions you should consider setting up a lasting power of attorney.Jan 13, 2022
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
Durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that gives another person the authority to make a medical decision for an individual. The person named to represent the individual is referred to as an agent or attorney-in-fact.
The death, incapacity or bankruptcy of the donor or sole attorney will automatically revoke the validity of any general power of attorney (GPA). GPAs can be revoked by the donor at any time with a deed of revocation. The attorney must also be notified of the revocation or the deed of revocation won't be effective.
Make a durable POA in Alabama so someone can help you with your financial matters if you ever become incapacitated.
You can make several different types of POAs.
Alabama requires that the person making a power of attorney be of sound mind. In other words, the person must be " able to understand and comprehend his or her actions." (Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center v. McFarland, 187 So.3d 1112 (Ala.
Alabama offers a statutory form (a form drafted by the state legislature) with blanks that you can fill out to create your POA. However, statutory forms are often full of legalese, and it's not always apparent how to fill them out.
Legally speaking, you can name almost any competent adult to serve as your agent.
In Alabama, unless you've explicitly stated otherwise in the document, your durable financial power of attorney takes effect as soon as you've signed it before witnesses and a notary public.
Any power of attorney automatically ends at your death. It also ends if:
The power of attorney is an extremely flexible planning tool that allows an individual (the principal) to authorize another (the agent or Attorney-in-Fact) to deal with his or her property. Although the power of attorney is most often thought of in terms of a planning tool for the elderly or disabled, it should not be limited to this segment of society, but should also be considered by those who are young and in good health in planning for the possibility of incapacity or unavailability. Because of the possibility of incapacity, it is recommended that all powers of a attorney be made durable pursuant to Ala. Code §26-1-2 (1992).
The drafting attorney must remember that the principal is the client, and it is the principal’s interest that must be protected. While a third party may approach you to create a power of attorney, this person is not the client.
power of attorney has many advantages. It is an inexpensive, flexible planning tool and is easier to implement in comparison to the other options which afford similar powers over the principal’s property —conservatorships and trusts.1 It is important to remember that a power of attorney may not preclude the need for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.2 However, the principal may nominate an individual to serve as guardian or conservator in the power of attorney and the Probate Court must appoint that nominee except for good cause or disqualification.3
An Attorney-in-Fact may make health care decisions for the principal if, in the opinion of the attending physician the principal cannot give directions to health care providers.18 Unless limited in the durable power of attorney, an Attorney-in-Fact make any health care decision that the principal could have made except decisions regarding (i) psychosurgery, (ii) sterilization, (iii) abortion (unless necessary to preserve the principal's life) or (iv) involuntary commitment.
As an agent, the Attorney-in-Fact must act in the principal’s best interest in dealing with the principal’s property . The following pronouncement from the Supreme Court of Alabama in Sevigny v. New South Federal Savings and Loan Association sets forth the agent’s obligations to the principal:
It may be appropriate to allow the Attorney-in-Fact the right to delegate his or her powers. This would allow the Attorney-in-Fact to have another act on his or her behalf if necessary (i.e., if the Attorney-in-Fact were out of town).
It is recommended that the principal periodically review the power of attorney with their attorney to make sure that the power of attorney continues to meet the principal’s objectives and ensure that appropriate Attorneys-in-Fact are named.
The meaning of the authority granted to you is defined in the Alabama Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Chapter 1A, Title 26, Code of Alabama 1975 . If you violate the Alabama Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Chapter 1A, Title 26, Code of Alabama 1975, or act outside the authority granted, you may be liable for any damages caused by your violation.
When you accept the authority granted under this power of attorney, a special legal relationship is created between you and the principal. This relationship imposes upon you legal duties that continue until you resign or the power of attorney is terminated or revoked. You must:
Section 104 establishes that a power of attorney created under the Act is durable unless it expressly states otherwise. This default rule is the reverse of the approach under the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act and based on the assumption that most principals prefer durability as a hedge against the need for guardianship. See also Section 107 Comment (noting that the default rules of the jurisdiction’s law under which a power of attorney is created, including the default rule for durability, govern the meaning and effect of a power of attorney).
One of the purposes of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act is promotion of the portability and use of powers of attorney. Section 106 makes clear that the Act does not affect the validity of pre-existing powers of attorney executed under prior law in the enacting jurisdiction, powers of attorney validly created under the law of another jurisdiction, and military powers of attorney. While the effect of this section is to recognize the validity of powers of attorney created under other law, it does not abrogate the traditional grounds for contesting the validity of execution such as forgery, fraud, or undue influence.