when having a power of attorney on someone are you responsable for their debits

by Kenny Wisoky 4 min read

No, not unless you somehow guarantee the debts of the estate. The estate assets pay the debts of the estate such as remaining medical bills, funeral bills etc... should the person be deceased. If the credit card companies are saying otherwise you should contact a lawyer about that as this may well be an illegal debt collection practice.

When it comes to debt, an agent acting under power of attorney is not liable for any debts the principal accrued before being given authority or/and any obligations outside their scope of authority.May 7, 2021

Full Answer

Is a power of attorney responsible for debts?

Jan 22, 2021 · The person you appoint can be anyone: a lawyer, a nurse or a friend or relative you trust. But while someone with power of attorney is responsible for …

What happens to a power of attorney when the principal dies?

If you are appointed as an agent of your parents’ POA, you do not have to take on your parents’ debts on yourself. As long as your parents are alive, they are the ones responsible for the money they owe. Once they become incapacitated, you—as the agent—will need to pay the debts using your parents’ assets and not your own money.

What is a power of attorney and do I need one?

Mar 29, 2020 · Power of attorney does not make an agent liable for the principal’s debts, explains Neal Frankle for Wealth Pilgrim. However, if agents are irresponsible or fail to heed their principal’s instructions, they may be held liable for any debts that may result, warns Nolo.

What happens if an agent of power of attorney is irresponsible?

May 07, 2021 · You may be wondering if you will be responsible for any debts after the principal's death. Let's take a closer look. Respond to debt collectors in 15 minutes and win in court. Understand How a Power of Attorney Works. A power of attorney is a legal document giving authority to an agent to act on behalf of the principal in the event of ...

What are liabilities for power of attorney?

A person named as power of attorney is a fiduciary, and owes the person who selected him the duty to handle his care appropriately and to do his best. Everything is geared toward that person's best interests.

What are the disadvantages of being power of attorney?

What Are the Disadvantages of a Power of Attorney?A Power of Attorney Could Leave You Vulnerable to Abuse. ... If You Make Mistakes In Its Creation, Your Power Of Attorney Won't Grant the Expected Authority. ... A Power Of Attorney Doesn't Address What Happens to Assets After Your Death.More items...•Sep 4, 2018

Can a family members be liable for debts?

Generally speaking, while you are alive, your relatives are not responsible for paying any debts you may have incurred. But there can be many, many exceptions to this rule. For instance, spouses may be responsible for each other's medical debts depending on the state they live in.

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 a family member override a power of attorney?

As long as the parent is competent, he or she can revoke a power of attorney at any time for any reason. The parent should put the revocation in writing and inform the old agent. Removing an agent under power of attorney. Once a parent is no longer competent, he or she cannot revoke the power of attorney.May 2, 2019

Can I be responsible for my parents debt?

In a word, no (most of the time). “As a general rule, you're not responsible for your parents' debts like a car loan, mortgage or credit card debt,” says Thomas Anderson, a director of financial planning at Northwestern Mutual.Jun 15, 2021

How do you avoid inheriting your parents debt?

There are laws that protect people from inheriting debt, so be cautious if a credit card company solicits payment upon a family member's death. Creditors in search of payment must present their request, in writing, to an attorney for the estate or the named executor within six months of the estate being opened.

Do next of kin inherit debt?

When someone passes away, their unpaid debts don't just go away. It becomes part of their estate. Family members and next of kin won't inherit any of the outstanding debt, except when they own the debt themselves.

When does a power of attorney end?

A power of attorney document ends when your parents pass away. In that situation, the administrator of the estate is the one who is in charge of paying any debts. While you won’t have to return the money your parents owe, note that your inheritance might be affected by their debts.

What is a POA?

General POA —Allows the agent to make decisions in the principal’s stead until the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. It is normally used when the principal is out of the state for a while and can’t take care of certain tasks on their own.

How to be a real estate agent?

Regardless of who wants to appoint you as an agent—whether your parent, friend, or family member—you should be aware of your potential responsibilities. Those can include: 1 Acting diligently and in good faith for the principal’s benefit 2 Managing the principal’s real estate, investments, financial assets, and bank accounts 3 Keeping accounts of all transactions involving the property 4 Determining if the principal has a will and what the contents are 5 Using the principal’s assets to cover the expenses related to their care and support 6 Consulting with supportive family members and friends regarding important decisions

What is the role of a principal?

Acting diligently and in good faith for the principal’s benefit. Managing the principal’s real estate, investments, financial assets, and bank accounts. Keeping accounts of all transactions involving the property. Determining if the principal has a will and what the contents are. Using the principal’s assets to cover the expenses related ...

Does DoNotPay help POA?

DoNotPay can not only help you create a POA, but we can also provide you with valuable information regarding this document. With us, you can learn all about different types of powers of attorney, including:

Is the agent responsible for debts when the principal passes away?

Normally, the agent is not responsible for any debts when the principal passes away, but there are a few exceptions. Take a look at the table below for more information:

Who is the person who gives power of attorney?

The person who gives the power of attorney is known as a principal, grantor or donor, while the receiver is referred to as an agent, according to Frankle. The agent is legally allowed to sign contracts, purchase property, take on debts and accept other obligations on behalf of the principal. However, the principal is ultimately responsible ...

What is an agent liable for?

Under certain circumstances, agents may be held liable for actions undertaken in the course of their duties. They are considered responsible for obligations accepted illegally, negligently or in violation of the power of attorney contract. Agents may also be liable for obligations resulting from signing additional contracts.

How does a power of attorney work?

A power of attorney is a legal document giving authority to an agent to act on behalf of the principal in the event of incapacitation. Generally, this is the person who is responsible for making decisions for you when you can't. A principal is a person who designates power of attorney, ...

What is the purpose of a power of attorney?

As you probably know, the primary purpose of a power of attorney is to act as another person's legal agent during their lifetime should they need you. But what happens when they pass away? You may be wondering if you will be responsible for any debts after the principal's death. Let's take a closer look.

Which states have community property laws?

The nine states with community property laws include California, Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Washington, Texas, and Wisconsin. Make the right defense the right way with SoloSuit.

Who is the executor of an estate?

The executor of the estate is usually named by the will and is bound by its provisions. Essentially, while a power of attorney represents a principal while they are alive, the executor represents the principal after death. Once appointed, the executor can only follow the instructions laid out by the will. If the deceased principal did not leave ...

What is a POA?

A power of attorney (POA) gives a person or agent authority to manage the principal's affairs, including finances, property, or medical-related decisions. There are three different types of power of attorney. General Power of Attorney.

What is the role of an agent in a POA?

The agent is given overall authority over the principal's finances and manages the principal’s estate and property as per the POA contract. In some cases, the agent can also access the principal's bank accounts and pay for bills and other expenses on the principal's behalf.

What happens to the principal when he dies?

In the event of death, all the outstanding debts liable to the principal should be settled using the property in their estate left after death. The family members of the principal are not responsible for any debts owed by their deceased relative.

What is a durable power of attorney?

General Durable Power Of Attorney. This is the standard POA agreement for wills, estates, and finances. Agents can buy and sell property, pay bills, and conduct other financial business for the grantor. Durable means it remains binding should the grantor become incapacitated or pass away.

What is POA in law?

This type of POA outlines the limited powers of the agent as stated by the grantor and/or their attorney. These POAs are becoming more common due to the amount of fraud and theft committed by agents with a general durable power of attorney.

What is a limited POA?

This is a simple, limited POA that allows the agent to make healthcare and medical decisions should the grantor become incapacitated and require guardianship. It’s essential to recognize that this type of POA carries an extremely low risk for the agent, and no agent will be held financially responsible for the medical bills of the grantor.

Can a POA cause financial chaos?

Sometimes, either through willful intent or blissful ignorance, agents of a POA can cause legal and financial chaos. If the terms of the POA are too broad (as with a general durable POA), the agent can buy and sell property at a loss, mismanage a business into the ground, or even create the appearance of theft or embezzlement unintentionally.

What to do before signing a POA?

Before you sign anything as an agent in a POA, you want to make sure you clearly and thoroughly understand the rules, stipulations, and limitations of the agreement. Even unintentionally violating any of those rules can result in legal and financial liability for you even though you were acting as the grantor’s agent.

Can you give a spouse a POA?

Spouses are considered the first next of kin in the eyes of the law. As such, it is generally unwise to give a spouse POA over your affair s as it could adversely affect them financially and legally should they need to use that POA. Suppose you insist on making your spouse or close relative an agent of your POA. In that case, the recommendation is to use a limited durable power of attorney and not a general power of attorney.

Gust G Sarris

Never. However you should know several things about POAs . 1. The power exists only when the person is living. If they die you cannot continue to sign checks, etc. This means a POA should not be used as an estate planning tool. 2. You must act responsibly with this ability. 3.

Alan James Brinkmeier

No, not unless you somehow guarantee the debts of the estate. The estate assets pay the debts of the estate such as remaining medical bills, funeral bills etc... should the person be deceased . If the credit card companies are saying otherwise you should contact a lawyer about that as this may well be an illegal debt collection practice.

Why do we need a power of attorney?

A power of attorney should be created to appropriately represent the specifics of the unique circumstances and the decisions and care that need to be made on behalf of the person. “People should stay away from the internet and have a power of attorney custom drafted to your circumstances,” Furman advises.

What is the fiduciary obligation of a power of attorney?

By law, the agent under a power of attorney has an overriding obligation, commonly known as a fiduciary obligation, to make financial decisions that are in the best interests of the principal (the person who named the agent under the power of attorney).

What is Durable Power of Attorney?

What Does a Durable Power of Attorney Mean?#N#In regard to a durable POA, the word “durable” specifically means that the effectiveness of the assigned power of attorney remains in effect even if the principal becomes mentally incompetent. Typically, there are four situations that would render powers of attorney null and void: 1 If you revoke it 2 If you become mentally incompetent 3 If there is an expiration date 4 If you die

Who determines the type of powers to grant their agent in the power of attorney document?

The principal determines the type of powers to grant their agent in the power of attorney document, which is why it should be drafted by an experienced attorney in the court so that it covers the principal ’s unique situation.

What does "durable" mean in POA?

In regard to a durable POA, the word “durable” specifically means that the effectiveness of the assigned power of attorney remains in effect even if the principal becomes mentally incompetent. Typically, there are four situations that would render powers of attorney null and void: If you revoke it.

What is mental incapacity?

Mental incapacity is defined as a person being unable to make informed decisions. Additionally, mental incapacity can include persons incapable of communicating decisions, or persons with medical concerns relating to disease or injury (such as a coma or unconsciousness).

Who is Stuart Furman?

A Place for Mom’s legal expert, Stuart Furman, author of “ The ElderCare Ready Book ,” identifies the top five misconceptions that today’s families have regarding a POA. By learning from these misconceptions about a POA, you will get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, including who should draft the signed document ...