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If you become catastrophically injured or terminally ill and unable to consciously make decisions, who would be able to make them for you?
While many people assume that a spouse or child automatically has authority, this assertion is not the case without having to jump through legal hoops. By the time they receive power to make decisions on your behalf, it could be far too late in some situations.
Instead of leaving yourself exposed, draft and execute a durable power of attorney to protect your rights and provide your loved ones with peace of mind. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about durable powers of attorney.
What is a Durable Power of Attorney?
Durable powers of attorney (DPOA) allows someone to act as an attorney-in-fact agent on behalf of the principal. Powers extend to authority over financial, medical, and legal affairs decisions if the principal cannot do so. It is a document intended to make the decision-making process as easy and quickly as possible for the agent.
People generally assign durable powers of attorney to:
- Spouses
- Partners
- Adult children
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Siblings
- Attorneys
The person you choose to act as a durable power of attorney should be someone you trust implicitly. This individual may be called upon to render decisions on your behalf and in your best interest. It is also helpful to select a person with whom you routinely interact so that they have a better understanding of how you make personal decisions.
A durable power of attorney ends when specific conditions are met. You have the right to revoke these powers at any time and on your own free will. However, they will automatically end upon your death regardless of preceding events.
Difference Between Durable Power of Attorney and General Power of Attorney
The primary difference between a durable power of attorney and general power of attorney is that durable POAs remain intact until the principal either revokes authority or dies while the latter ends upon principal incapacitation. They also share different purposes as well.
Since this article focuses on durable powers of attorney, let’s take a brief but closer look at general powers of attorney.
General Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney offers support to the principal while still alive and able to consciously make independent decisions. There are usually specific healthcare issues that necessitate using a general power of attorney, such as a mental illness or catastrophic injury.
Reasons to use a general power of attorney include:
- Handle financial matters
- Operate an owned business
- Manage and discuss insurance policies
- Making doctor’s appointments
- Discuss medical records
- Issue critical decisions in their place
- Retain legal rights to specific designations
There are many tangible reasons to use a general power of attorney when a person is still alive and cognitive. However, a general POA does not address issues once the principal becomes incapacitated. Let’s look at this situation more closely and other reasons to use a durable power of attorney.
Here is an article on Power of Attorneys.
Reason to Use a Durable Power of Attorney
Reasons to use a durable power of attorney primarily center around a specific triggering event. Sometimes these events lead to family lawyers calling the document a “springing POA” when certain conditions are met—for example, your durable power of attorney “springs” into effect upon your incapacitation.
There are two types of springing POAs that you can use, including a durable power of attorney for health care and a durable power of attorney for finance.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Durable powers of attorney (DPOA), also known as a medical power of attorney , for health care allows a proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become injured or terminally ill, rendering you incapacitated. It is also a limited power of attorney because the proxy cannot make legal decisions on unrelated matters, such as financial affairs.
Durable Power of Attorney for Finance
Durable powers of attorney (DPOA) for finance, also known as a financial power of attorney, allow your proxy to make financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated or unconscious. They can authorize transactions, make withdrawals, open new accounts, and speak with the bank on your behalf. Your financial DPOA must be someone you know and trust well since they have direct access to your financial accounts.
There are other types of legal powers of attorney. However, the above-referenced documents are used most commonly. Always speak with estate planning lawyers about your options if you have questions.
Important Clauses in a Durable Power of Attorney
Durable POAs must contain specific guidelines and provisions like any other contract. Missing essential clauses in a durable power of attorney can render them invalid or unenforceable. This situation will lead to additional legal issues with which your family must contend.
Important clauses in a durable power of attorney agreement include:
- Introduction of the parties
- Specific delegate powers
- Choice of law clause
- Acceptance
- Signature block with datelines
- Notarization block
The above-referenced list is a simple outline of the critical durable power of attorney clauses that you will want to incorporate into your documents. However, other provisions are necessary, especially when creating a springing power of attorney, such as a medical POA or financial POA. You can learn more about your legal rights and options by getting legal help with your durable power of attorney.
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Get Help With Your Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney is one component of a solid estate plan. This document will grant your loved ones the authority to act on your behalf, but you could also benefit by engaging the estate planning process to take tax advantages, ensure your final wishes are met, avoid probate, and leave a lasting legacy.
Other estate planning documents that you may want to consider with your durable power of attorney includes:
- Pour over or living wills
- Advance health directives
- Revocable living trust
Probate lawyers and estate planning lawyers in your state can help you draft and sign these documents while ensuring that you meet your end-of-life objectives. It is challenging to determine which type of estate plan you need without speaking to a legal professional.
Efficient Legal Help for Spouses
Attorneys can also assist other family members. If you have a spouse, they will most likely need one, too, if not already in place. You and your spouse can work with the same individual to ensure a cohesive strategy is in place.
Effective Legal Analysis
Your durable power of attorney and overarching estate plans should reflect your financial, medical, and legal situation. Estate planning lawyers have professional training to spot indirect issues that could affect your plans. Avoid legal mistakes and redundancies by hiring a legal team to draft your documents early on.
Ongoing Support to Update Documents
It is not unusual for someone’s situation to change over time. Your attorney can offer you ongoing maintenance services on your durable power of attorney and other estate planning documents. It is usually comforting and encouraging to know that someone can help you as necessary.
Meet some of our Durable Power of Attorney Lawyers
Kristen R.
Transactional and Employment Attorney and Small Business Owner. I do inside counsel work from the outside. I demystify the law for my clients.
Meghan T.
Meghan Thomas is an accomplished transactional attorney. She specializes in real estate transactional matters, property disputes, IP, tech and business contracts. Meghan's innovative leadership style has attributed to the firm's rapid development and presence in the metro-Atlanta market. She obtained her Doctor of Law from Emory University where she worked with the State Attorney General and litigated property disputes for disadvantaged clients. Prior to practicing, Meghan negotiated complex transactions for Fortune 500 tech and healthcare companies. She lives with her family in Southwest Atlanta, enjoys cooking, travel, dance and continues to develop her research in the areas of transactional law and legal sustainability.
January 4, 2022
Amy Sue L.
Ms. Leavens is a corporate attorney with 10 years of experience as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of a Congressionally chartered, non-profit corporation, and more than 20 years of experience as an advisor to executive officers and boards of directors in for-profit and non-profit organizations. She has substantial experience within in-house legal departments managing cross-functional teams comprised of multiple business units and attorneys on large-scale mission critical projects, and within a global law firm as a manager of public and private, domestic and international, multi-party business transactions. She has unique experience implementing government-sponsored business initiatives. Ms. Leavens was honored in 2015 as one of Washington, D.C.’s Top Corporate Counsel by Bisnow and the Association of Corporate Counsel; nominated in 2014 for the Association of Corporate Counsel (WMACCA) Outstanding Chief Legal Officer Award; and the recipient in 2014 of WMACCA’s Community Service Award.
January 5, 2022
Elizabeth V.
Most of my career has been as in-house counsel for technology companies. My responsibilities included managing all vendor/procurement contracts and compliance, customer/partner/reseller contracts and compliance, data security/privacy compliance and incident responses, HR/employment issues, and legal operations. I am very comfortable negotiating Commercial Contracts, Vendor Agreements, and Procurement Contracts for goods, services, and licensing, as well as addressing Employment & Labor, Intellectual Property, and Data Privacy issues and compliance. I specialized and have a certificate in IP in law school and continued to develop in that area as in-house counsel for Interactive Intelligence, Genesys, which are unified communication companies, and KAR Global in the automobile digital services lines of business.
January 13, 2022
Amos M.
Since 2008, I have worked to assist clients in solving problems and addressing challenges that inevitably arise as a business grows - both anticipated and unexpected. My experience in Georgia and Tennessee in both drafting contracts and enforcing them via litigation and/or arbitration has provided clients with unique insights that help them anticipate problems and inform their decisions from start to finish.
January 18, 2022
Leah C.
I am an attorney licensed in Alabama and have been in solo practice for 7 years. I have experience in Contracts drafting and review, Litigation and Immigration practice areas. I am available for new projects.
January 31, 2022
Cecilia O.
With 15 years of extensive transactional/contracts experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts including a wide variety of purchase orders and contracts and non-disclosure agreements (NDA), I believe I can immediately contribute to the continued success of your team. I have been commended for a range of valuable skills—excellent contract management and contract administration, legal research, risk analysis, drafting and negotiations, and strategic thinking. I have worked as a legal consultant for 10+ years and I have reviewed over 7,500 contracts through this position. Contracts I have reviewed include but not limited to purchase orders, commercial and construction contracts, equipment rental agreements, non-disclosure, confidentiality, vendor agreements, service agreements, site access agreements, international agreements, request for proposals (RFP), bids and government contracts. These experiences have enabled me to master the ability to work independently and expeditiously to identify and assess issues and provide legally sound recommendations, consistent with good business practices. I have led teams (sales, insurance and management) to successfully negotiate contract terms with customers. Effective Communicator and Negotiator. I am a people person, and for the past 13 years, I have acquired excellent oral and written communication skills that enable me to interact and negotiate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. I am a self-starter with a strong work ethic. I have a high degree of resourcefulness, diligence, and dependability. Most important, I adapt to changing priorities quickly, thriving in an environment with high volume and short turnaround deadlines. My experience over the years allows me to transfer my skills to all types of contracts to meet the client’s needs. I am hopeful to provide similar legal expertise, effective contract administration and leadership to your organization. It would be a pleasure to meet within the next few weeks and discuss how my qualifications, experience, and capabilities will best fit the needs of your outfit.
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Create Durable Power of Attorney
Location: Florida
Turnaround: Over a week
Service: Drafting
Doc Type: Durable Power of Attorney
Number of Bids: 4
Bid Range: $250 - $850
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