when both siblings have power of attorney

by Athena Stamm 4 min read

Yes, parents may appoint two siblings as power of attorney. The law allows for dual power of attorney and does not restrict families from assigning two siblings to the role. The option may prove beneficial for several reasons, including maintaining a good family environment and sincere affection for one another during difficult times.

Q: Can Two Siblings Have Power of Attorney? Yes, two siblings can share power of attorney. Often, a parent who wants to be fair will give each child equal powers so not as to hurt anyone's feelings.Feb 1, 2021

Full Answer

Can a power of attorney limit siblings'access to their parents?

Mar 17, 2021 ·

Can two people have power of attorney at the same time?

Can a family member be a power of attorney?

Dec 05, 2017 · S. sue888 Dec 2017. Yes, my brother and I have POA for my mom. It works if the two POA's are on board together. I hear it can be a nightmare if they aren't. My mom wanted me because I am the one here taking care of her but she felt obligated to have my brother because he's a son:) 12/03/2017 21:45:42. Helpful Answer ( 2)

What is a power of attorney (POA)?

Jun 23, 2017 · A lot depends upon what is said in the POA, but as a practical matter, if the title company insists on both signing the closing documents, they can arrange to have sister make an appearance before a title company in New Hampshire to sign what needs to be signed.

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What happens if you have 2 power of attorney?

If there's more than one attorney separately or together - sometimes called 'jointly and severally' - which means attorneys can make decisions on their own or with other attorneys. together - sometimes called 'jointly' - which means all the attorneys have to agree on the decision.

Can a joint power of attorney act alone?

What is a 'joint' power of attorney? With a joint lasting power of attorney, your attorneys can only act if they're all in agreement. If there is paperwork to sign, they all need to sign it. If there's a decision to make, they all have to agree.

How can a POA remove a sibling?

Removing an agent under power of attorney. If the agent is acting improperly, family members can file a petition in court challenging the agent. If the court finds the agent is not acting in the principal's best interest, the court can revoke the power of attorney and appoint a guardian.May 2, 2019

What happens if two power of attorneys disagree?

If power of attorney co-agents disagree on a financial decision and the principal is mentally competent and not physically incapacitated, then the principal's decision supersedes the representatives. The principal also has the authority to revoke an agent's authority.Feb 15, 2021

What does jointly and severally power of attorney mean?

Joint and Several Attorneys If Jane's power of attorney for property gives Mark and James the authority to act jointly and severally, this means that they can each make separate decisions without the other person's agreement or sign-off on same.Apr 7, 2017

What happens if a joint attorney dies?

they are all required to make decisions together, then the LPA ceases on the death of one attorney as the joint attorney unit no longer exists. If a replacement attorney was named, then they will take the place of the original single attorney, or of an attorney who was acting jointly and severally.Feb 20, 2019

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

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 power of attorney keep family away?

In most cases, an adult child who has power of attorney cannot use power of attorney to limit others' access to their parent. If there is a reason to limit access, the child serving as power of attorney could obtain a court order on the parent's behalf.

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.

What are the disadvantages of being power of attorney?

One major downfall of a POA is the agent may act in ways or do things that the principal had not intended. There is no direct oversight of the agent's activities by anyone other than you, the principal. This can lend a hand to situations such as elder financial abuse and/or fraud.

How many power of attorneys should you have?

How Many Attorneys Should I Appoint? Technically you can have as many attorneys as you like but it is common to appoint between one and four attorneys. It's advisable not to have too many attorneys, as it can cause issues if lots of people are trying to act on your behalf at once.Mar 6, 2020

Can power of attorney override will?

If your loved one made an Advance Decision (Living Will) after you were appointed as their attorney, you can't override the decisions made in their Advance Decision.

What is a power of attorney?

Power of attorney allows a trusted family member, friend, or professional (called an attorney-in-fact or agent) to handle financial matters for the person granting the power.

Why do people use powers of attorney?

People also use powers of attorney for purposes other than estate planning, such as giving someone else authority to sign for them at a real estate closing.

Can an adult child be an attorney in fact?

Naming an adult child as your attorney-in-fact may be the most logical choice. However, consider whether doing so could create or exacerbate rivalry between that child and their siblings. In most cases, an adult child who has power of attorney cannot use power of attorney to limit others' access to their parent.

Do you need to name an attorney in fact?

When you create a power of attorney, you need to name one or more attorneys-in-fact. Your attorney (s)-in-fact have whatever powers you authorize and can be any competent adult (s). However, because the document is potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, it is important to name a family member, friend, or professional that you trust. In short, you should believe your named agent will act in your best interest and honor your wishes at all times.

Kelly Scott Davis

A lot depends upon what is said in the POA, but as a practical matter, if the title company insists on both signing the closing documents, they can arrange to have sister make an appearance before a title company in New Hampshire to sign what needs to be signed.

Jack C. Moore

Whether one or both must sign depends on the exact wording of the power of attorney.

Richard Winblad

Do yourself a favor and contact the closing company in advance to see if one signature will suffice.#N#Sorry for your issues.#N#This situation shows why it is usually a bad idea to have co-agents acting under a power of attorney. This case represents inconvenience but imagine if the siblings...

Michele G Pearson

Your question is a little bit ambiguous, so I have a varied answer. I will answer it as though the issue you present could mean different things. Assuming that the document (s) were written and executed properly, here is what occurs to me as helpful...

Abraham Thomas Schwager

The power of attorney document should say whether it requires joint action by the two attorneys-in-fact. The general rule in many states (I do not practice in Washington) is that the agents can act independently of one another unless the POA document says they must act jointly.

Why is a durable power of attorney important?

A durable power of attorney is one of the most important estate planning documents and can save your family (and you) from problems and expenses if you become unable to handle your own affairs as a result of illness or accident.

How many daughters does Jack have?

Who to name and whether you should have more than one agent is an important discussion to have with your planning attorney. Jack, age 88, has two daughters, Laverne and Shirley, both of whom are capable and willing to act for Jack if needed. Jack’s initial thought was to name Laverne, his eldest, as agent and Shirley as a successor (ie, ...

Where does Laverne live?

He showed some concern, however, that Shirley’s feelings would be hurt. Another concern of Jack’s (and Shirley’s) is that Laverne lives in Milwaukee and himself and Shirley live on Long Island. However, if you have the right person, where that person lives is usually not a problem.

What is POA in law?

A POA is a legal document that grants a person the power to act on behalf of another person. The grantor is called the principal. The person that holds the authority for another is called the agent. The following are some examples of common scenarios where this issue arises.

How old is Jane Smith?

For the purposes of these examples, Jane Smith is a mentally competent 65-year old woman who lives in Florida. She has two children, Mary Smith and David Smith, who also live in Florida.

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Who Should Have Power of Attorney?

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The best way to avoid disputes over a POAis to choose the right agent. It may be evident for some families that the eldest child may also be an accountant and have a very close and trusting relationship with the parent. In other instances, the most senior may not be good with money, or the siblings may disagree on who should t…
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Naming Joint Or Co-Agents as Poa

  • It is possible to split the responsibilities of power of attorney into two fields: medical POA and financial POA. The financial POA can pay bills, withdraw funds, manage investments, cash checks, and access bank accounts. The medical POA makes all healthcare decisions for the principal, including whether to withdraw life support if the principal is vegetative or terminally ill. It may be …
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Avoiding Power of Attorney Abuse

  • An agent must legally act in the best interest of the principal. To do otherwise can result in being sued or being accused of abuse of POA. These accusations can often start family feuds and sibling rivalries, especially if the parent’s best interests are not being taken into consideration. First and foremost, choosing a knowledgeable, trusted POA from the criteria above can help pre…
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Common Causes For Family Disputes

  • Not following the principal’s wishes can not only cause disputes, but it is going against your legal responsibility as POA. For example, if the principal has, as part of their living will, a DNR (do not resuscitate) order, and the POA keeps them on life support in a vegetative state, action can be taken. Maintaining your responsibility as POA is essential, even when decisions are difficult. Mis…
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Understanding Power of Attorney

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Granting broad, durable power of attorneyto a child or other responsible adult means that if you aren't able to handle your own financial affairs, someone else can. Unless you choose to limit the authority in some way, your attorney-in-fact can write checks from your bank account, get information about your assets, make tra…
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The Scope of Durable vs. Nondurable Powers of Attorney

  • The most common type of power of attorney is a durable power of attorney. This means the named agent has authority to act even during periods of the creator's lifetime incapacity. In contrast, a nondurable power of attorney is only valid while the person who created the form has mental capacity. If they become incapacitated, the named agent's authority ends. Regardless of …
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Considerations When Naming An Attorney-In-Fact

  • When you create a power of attorney, you need to name one or more attorneys-in-fact. Your attorney(s)-in-fact have whatever powers you authorize and can be any competent adult(s). However, because the document is potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, it is important to name a family member, friend, or professional that you trust. In short, you should believe your na…
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