who can be your power of attorney and whats the circumstances for having one

A POA allows someone, known as your agent or attorney-in-fact, to act on your behalf when you're not available, when you want them to act for you, or, in some cases, when you're not of sound mind. While many people opt for durable POAs, in some cases, a springing POA might be best for your circumstances.

Full Answer

Who should you choose to be your power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document giving a person (known as the agent) broad powers to manage matters on behalf of another person (known as the principal).

Who should I nominate as power of attorney?

Jun 26, 2019 · Yes. Family members, including spouses, can be your power of attorney in Texas. Can a Power of Attorney Change a Life Insurance Beneficiary? Yes — but the agent always has a fiduciary duty to act in good faith. If your power of attorney is making such a change, it must be in your best interests. If they do not act in your interests, they are violating their duties. Can Power …

How do you become a power of attorney?

Nov 04, 2019 · It’s what we do. We make sure our parents, siblings, and other extended families can count on us to pitch in now and in the future. One of those responsibilities is signing on as power of attorney to better serve as executor of a will or to handle legal affairs should a family member pass on or become incapacitated.

Who can serve as my power of attorney?

Jul 11, 2018 · A general power of attorney governs all financial powers covered by a power of attorney (like buying or selling a property or otherwise managing one’s assets). However, the specific language of a power granted will depend on the decisions outlined in the signed document. The powers in a POA are specific, especially when custom drafted.

Who is the best person to give power of attorney?

Most people select their spouse, a relative, or a close friend to be their power of attorney. But you can name anyone you want: Remember that selecting a power of attorney is not about choosing the person closest to you, but rather the one who can represent your wishes the best.Mar 14, 2020

How do I get power of attorney in South Africa?

In order for the power of attorney to be valid, the principal must have the necessary contractual capacity. In South Africa the law of agency is based upon the principle that an agent cannot do that which his principal has no capacity to do himself.

Who is entitled to power of attorney?

The person appointed to act on behalf of the donor is called an attorney. Anyone can be an attorney, as long as: they are capable of making decisions, and. they are 18 or over.

Who can draft a power of attorney?

Who Can I Name to Have Power of Attorney? You can technically name anybody to have POA, so long as it is done under your free will and you are mentally competent. 2 It should be somebody trustworthy and capable, such as a spouse, close family member, or friend. You may also designate your lawyer to have a POA.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document giving a person (known as the agent or attorney-in-fact) broad powers to manage matters on behalf of anothe...

Are there different types of power of attorney documents?

Yes. A power of attorney can be durable or non-durable. A durable power of attorney remains effective after the principal becomes incapacitated whi...

What are the most common reasons for needing a power of attorney?

Executing a power of attorney document may be helpful in a variety of ways. The power of attorney can permit an agent to act on the principal’s beh...

Is a person being a co-owner the same as that person having power of attorney?

In a joint account ownership situation,. any co-owner has full access to the account, including the ability to make withdrawals and pay bills. If o...

Is a person being a trusted contact the same as that person having power of attorney?

No. A trusted contact is an individual age 18 or older who is identified by you as someone we’re able to contact about your account for any of the...

I’m a trustee on a trust account. Can I use a power of attorney to name an agent to act on the trust...

A delegation of a trustee’s power may be subject to state laws and limitations in the trust agreement. Consult with your legal advisor to determine...

Is an account with an agent appointed in a power of attorney the same thing as an account with one o...

No. Sometimes referred to as a Totten trust or an in trust for (ITF) account, a payable on death (POD) account is an account ownership type in whic...

Does an agent have the same authority as a POD (payable on death) beneficiary?

No. Once a power of attorney document is executed and accepted by the bank and the agent is added to the account, the agent is authorized to act on...

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document giving a person (known as the agent) broad powers to manage matters on behalf of another person (known as the principal). Under certain circumstances, Bank of America allows agents to be added to the principal's accounts ...

What happens if one of your co-owners passes away?

If one co-owner passes away, the other co-owner owns all funds in the account. With a power of attorney, the ways in which the individual can conduct transactions can be specific and limited. See what's needed to add a co-owner to your account. See what's needed to add a co-owner to your account.

What is a trusted contact?

A trusted contact is an individual age 18 or older who is identified by you as someone we're able to contact about your account for any of the following reasons: To address suspicious financial activity on your account. To confirm specifics of your current contact information. To confirm your health status.

Can a trustee be delegated?

A delegation of a trustee's power may be subject to state laws and limitations in the trust agreement. Consult with your legal advisor to determine any legal requirements (in the law or in the trust agreement) and the appropriate language for including a delegation of a trustee's power in a power of attorney.

What is a power of attorney?

Powers of attorney are key estate planning documents. In the unfortunate event that you become unable to care for yourself, it is crucial that you grant a trusted party the authority to effectively make legal, financial, and medical decisions on your behalf. Through two key estate planning documents — the durable power of attorney and ...

Can a durable power of attorney make medical decisions?

Can a Durable Power of Attorney Make Medical Decisions? No. A durable power of attorney is generally for legal decision making and financial decision making. To allow a trusted person to make health care decisions, grant them medical power of attorney.

Can you have multiple power of attorney?

Yes. You have the legal right to appoint multiple people as your power of attorney. You could even split your durable power of attorney and your medical power of attorney. The legal documents should state whether each agent has full, independent power or if they have to act jointly.

Can a convicted felon have a power of attorney in Texas?

Can a Convicted Felon Have Power of Attorney? Yes. Texas law does not prevent a convicted felon from having a power of attorney. A mentally competent person has the authority to select who they want to serve as their power of attorney.

What to do with a power of attorney?

It is important to understand what you are trying to accomplish with a power of attorney and then make certain that you have such a document crafted for that purpose. Appoint someone you trust. This can’t be overstated. You are appointing someone to make all of your business, financial, and medical decisions for you.

What happens to a power of attorney when you die?

They cease at death. A power of attorney loses all authority at the moment of death.

Why is it important to trust your child?

It is important that you have no doubt in the ability of that person to perform honorably in any areas for which you give them authority. If you have a child that has made poor financial or personal decisions, don’t give them the opportunity to make similar poor decisions on your behalf. You must trust them.

Can a power of attorney be amended?

A power of attorney is always able to be revoked or amended. As long as you have the capacity to make appropriate legal decisions on your own behalf, then you have the right to make changes to your power of attorney document. If you do not believe that the document is in keeping with your wishes, then you should certainly consult ...

Can you put toothpaste back in the tube?

You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. If it is discovered that your power of attorney abused that position and has taken money from you, it can be difficult to recover all of the property. It is like putting toothpaste back into the tube at times.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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

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 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 ...

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document, signed by a competent adult called “the principal,” that grants a trusted person the power to make decisions on their behalf if the principal is unable to. This trusted person is called “the agent.”. It’s the agent’s job to make sure the principal — in this case their aging parent or loved one — is well cared for.

What is a fiduciary in banking?

Professional fiduciaries tend to be trust company officers, certified public accountants, or attorneys who are willing to take on the role of power of attorney for clients. An agency arrangement with a bank allows the institution to take on basic bill paying and some financial matters when a senior becomes incapacitated.

Can an adult child be a power of attorney?

Sometimes, taking on the responsibility of a power of attorney isn’t feasible. There are many reasons an adult child may not be prepared or able to act as power of attorney for an elderly parent.

What is a Power of Attorney?

Powers of attorney come in several forms. Some cover specific situations – for example, a parent may authorize someone to act on their behalf in selling the family home. The most frequently used version, the durable power of attorney, is sought by adult children to enable them to manage an elderly parent’s finances, ...

When does a durable power of attorney go into effect?

While a standard durable power of attorney gives your agent the authority to act on your behalf in financial matters immediately after the document is signed, a “springing” power of attorney goes into effect only if you become incapacitated.

Why do banks use durable powers of attorney?

Because the durable financial power of attorney is sometimes abused, either by relatives seeking to benefit themselves or by criminals who forge them to steal from the elderly, banks seek to avoid being held liable for a customer’s losses. They have grown wary of accepting powers of attorney, and their refusal to do so has prompted some states (but not Arizona) to pass laws requiring them to do so under certain circumstances.

What is the most important document to have for estate planning?

One of the most important estate planning documents you should have is a durable power of attorney designating who you authorize to manage your financial affairs . This document is most often used by adult children whose elderly parents can no longer manage on their own.

What is SSFPOA in Arizona?

Many states (but, again, not Arizona) have passed laws allowing for the creation of a Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney (SSFPOA) to address a financial institution’s angst and refusal to honor powers of attorney. It has a prescribed format that may not be altered, thereby providing uniformity and consistency among users and those financial institutions asked to recognize them.