which statement is true if a customer signs a durable power of attorney?

by Chesley Kuphal MD 4 min read

What is a durable power of attorney?

Which of the following statements are TRUE if a customer signs a durable power of attorney? I The power of attorney continues in effect if the grantor becomes mentally incompetent II The power of attorney ceases if the grantor becomes mentally incompetent III The power of attorney continues in effect if the grantor dies IV The power of attorney ceases if the grantor dies A. I …

Do I need a witness to sign a durable power of attorney?

To create and sign a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), you must be “competent,” also referred to as “of sound mind.”. That means you must have the mental capacity to understand the benefits, risks and effect of signing the document. Understanding the meaning and effect of the document before signing is crucial.

Who determines whether a person is “competent” when signing a power of attorney?

Which of the following statements are TRUE if a customer signs a durable power of attorney? I. The power of attorney continues in effect if the grantor becomes mentally incompetent II. The power of attorney ceases if the grantor becomes mentally incompetent III. The power of attorney continues in effect if the grantor dies IV.

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

Jan 27, 2022 · A durable power of attorney gives your agent the right to make decisions and take the actions specified for the long term. Even if you are mentally incapacitated or deemed unfit to make decisions for yourself, your agent can still act on your behalf. Since most older adults need a POA only in case they become incapacitated, this is the preferred type. Medical Power of …

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What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you (the “principal”) appoint someone (the “agent”) to act on your behalf in financial matters. A durable power of attorney (DPOA) remains in effect even after you become incapacitated, letting your agent continue to handle your affairs when you cannot. This is enormously helpful for the family ...

What is a DPOA?

To create and sign a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), you must be “competent,” also referred to as “of sound mind.” That means you must have the mental capacity to understand the benefits, risks and effect of signing the document. Understanding the meaning and effect of the document before signing is crucial. Here are some frequently-asked-questions about what makes a person competent or incompetent to sign.

What are the standards for mental health?

Some of these standards include: Level of arousal or consciousness. Orientation to time, place, person, and situation. Ability to attend and concentrate.

What is the ability to reason?

Ability to reason using abstract concepts. Ability to plan, organize, and carry out actions in one’s own rational self-interest. Ability to reason logically.

What happens if you don't have a DPOA?

If the judge decides the person did not have the capacity to make the DPOA, the most recent prior DPOA will be effective. If there is no DPOA, you may need to set up a formal conservatorship. However, if the person indeed had the capacity to execute the DPOA at the time, the DPOA is valid.

What is the meaning of "orientation"?

Orientation to time, place, person, and situation. Ability to attend and concentrate. Short- and long-term memory, including immediate recall. Ability to understand or communicate with others, verbally or otherwise. Recognition of familiar objects and familiar persons. Ability to understand and appreciate quantities.

What to do after putting together a durable power of attorney?

After you've done the hard work of putting together a durable power of attorney, you must carry out some simple tasks to make sure the document is legally valid and will be accepted by the people with whom your attorney-in-fact may have to deal. This section explains what to do.

Who do you show your power of attorney to?

Before you finalize your power of attorney, you may want to show it to the banks, brokers, insurers and other financial institutions you expect your attorney-in-fact to deal with on your behalf.

How much does a notary public charge for a power of attorney?

The notary will want proof of your identity, such as a driver's license that bears your photo and signature. The notary's fee is usually inexpensive—less than $20 in most places.

Where to put a copy of a power of attorney?

You may need to put a copy of your durable power of attorney on file in the land records office of the counties where you own real estate, called the county recorder's or land registry office in most states . This is called "recording," or "registering" in some states.

What is a preparation statement?

The preparation statement is a simple listing of the name and address of the person who prepared the document. In most cases, the name of the principal and the name of the person who prepared the document will be the same: your own.

How much does it cost to record a document?

Typically, the clerk makes a copy of your document for the public records and assigns it a reference number. In most places, it costs less than $10 per page to record a document.

Do you need to notarize a power of attorney?

In many states, notarization is required by law to make the durable power of attorney valid. But even where law doesn' t require it, custom usually does. A durable power of attorney that isn't notarized may not be accepted by people with whom your attorney-in-fact tries to deal. The notary public watches you sign the durable power ...

When to use durable power of attorney?

Normally, a durable power of attorney form is used to protect a principal's affairs in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. However, it is sometimes used when the principal is still capable of making his or her own decisions but is otherwise unable to do so. For example, if a client is diagnosed with a long-term illness, ...

When does a power of attorney become effective?

A power of attorney is either effective immediately or becomes effective at a future time, such as when the principal suffers from physical or mental incapacity. When the principal dies, the power of attorney is automatically revoked. An agent may be a family member, friend, or attorney. However, if a person has filed for bankruptcy ...

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legally binding document that grants a specified person power over his or her assets, legal-decision making, real estate transactions, and medical decisions in the event the individual is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable. A valid power of attorney requires two parties: the principal, ...

Do I need to notarize a power of attorney?

Notarizing a power of attorney. The laws vary from state to state as to what is required to properly notarize a power of attorney. Some states only require the principal's signature to be notarized, while others require either the principal's or a witness's signature (or both) to be notarized. It is best to familiarize yourself with your respective ...

Can a notary notarize a document?

Remember that if a notary is either the principal or the attorney-in- fact, then he or she is generally prohibited from notarizing the document.

Do notaries practice law?

Most notaries take great care not to engage in the unauthorized practice of law, but some understandably grow concerned when presented with a power of attorney or other legal document. It's helpful to familiarize yourself with the various documents you might be called upon to acknowledge and to consider how you should answer if asked to draft ...

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Before You Sign

  • Before you finalize your power of attorney, you may want to show it to the banks, brokers, insurers and other financial institutions you expect your attorney-in-fact to deal with on your behalf. Discussing your plans with people at these institutions before it is final—and giving them a copy of the durable power of attorney, after you sign it, if you wish—can make your attorney-in-fact's job …
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Signing and Notarizing

  • A durable power of attorney is a serious document, and to make it effective you must observe certain formalities when you sign the document. In almost all states, you must sign your durable power of attorney in the presence of a notary public. (In just a few states, you can choose to have your document witnessed or notarized. See "Witnessing," below.) In many states, notarization is …
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Witnessing

  • Most states don't require the durable power of attorney to be signed in front of witnesses Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to have a witness or two watch you sign, and sign the document themselves. Witnesses' signatures may make the power of attorney more acceptable to lawyers, banks, insurance companies and other entities the attorney-in-fact may have to deal with. Part o…
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Obtaining The Attorney‑In‑Fact's Signature

  • In the vast majority of states, the attorney-in-fact does not have to agree in writing to accept the job of handling your finances. The exceptions to this rule are California, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. In these states, the attorneys-in-fact (and alternates) do not need to sign the document unless or until they need to use it.
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Preparation Statement

  • At the end of the power of attorney interview, you will be asked to enter the name and address of the person who is preparing the power of attorney. This information is used to add a "preparation statement" to the end of your power of attorney document. Some states or counties require a preparation statement to record a document. But even where the law doesn't require it, tradition …
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Recording

  • You may need to put a copy of your durable power of attorney on file in the land records office of the counties where you own real estate, called the county recorder's or land registry office in most states. This is called "recording," or "registering" in some states. Only South Carolina requires you to record a power of attorney for it to be durable—that is, for it to remain in effect if you become …
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