| If you're like most of us that worry about | | | | act on your behalf. Consider this, what if |
| our future and protecting our property/estate | | | | you were buying assets and you couldn't be |
| then you need to know how executing a Power | | | | there that day, your declared Power of |
| of Attorney form can protect you. | | | | Attorney could make that legal transaction |
| | | | for you on your behalf. A Power of Attorney |
| All 50 of the U.S. states have a Power of | | | | is not simply for convenience though. What if |
| Attorney form that you can use to give one or | | | | you were incapable of acting on your own |
| more person(s) the right to act on your | | | | behalf because of an illness, |
| behalf, which you can limit to one specific | | | | unconsciousness, or because of an accident; |
| activity, situation, and/or event in the | | | | your Power of Attorney could make those |
| future. Also, if you wanted you could empower | | | | vital, life-saving decisions, and have the |
| someone to act on your behalf for a variety | | | | directive along with the legal authority to |
| of tasks. | | | | inform the medical staff of your healthcare |
| | | | wishes. Some people get more specifically |
| A Power of Attorney can be either immediately | | | | what is called a Healthcare Power of Attorney |
| effective or it can be exercised exclusively | | | | form that empowers someone to act on your |
| on the occurrence of an event in the future. | | | | behalf just for a medical situation/event. |
| In the Power of Attorney you may specify | | | | |
| whether the right to act on your behalf is | | | | In some situations where you are unable to |
| temporary, continuous or permanent. | | | | manage your own personal or business affairs, |
| | | | and you don't have a Power of Attorney, then |
| If later on you decide you want to revoke the | | | | the court may appoint someone to act for you. |
| Power of Attorney given to the declared | | | | You will not have a say as to who maybe |
| person(s) you can do so. You will need to | | | | appointed. However, if you have a Power of |
| file a form called a Revocation of Power of | | | | Attorney the right to choose a person to act |
| Attorney form. Some states may require a | | | | on your behalf and the authority given to |
| "revocation copy" along with your Revocation | | | | them is totally up to you. |
| of Power of Attorney form. A revocation copy | | | | |
| is a copy of your original Power of attorney | | | | If you have not yet filled out a Power of |
| form with "REVOKE" written in large letters | | | | Attorney form, it is about time you started |
| at the center top and then signed plus dated. | | | | thinking about getting one. It will remain |
| | | | valid as soon as you sign it and it will stay |
| You may be wondering why it might be | | | | valid until you die or when you revoke it. |
| necessary to give anyone else the power to | | | | |