What Is Power Of Attorney?

Many estate planning documents and designations give directions for situations that arise after your death. However, powers of attorney are established in order to ensure that your affairs are addressed while you are still alive but unable to take care of them yourself.

At the office of Jordan Fields, P.A., our Stuart, Florida, lawyers strive to help clients understand the benefits of designating powers of attorney as part of the estate planning process. There are different types of powers of attorney, such as medical powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney, that can be used to reach different goals and care for you in different ways.

Top Reason You Need To Designate Your Powers Of Attorney

In the event that you are incapacitated and cannot tend to your own financial affairs or make medical decisions for yourself, the individuals with power of attorney can step in. By designating these individuals in your estate planning documents, you can ensure the people you want to be making decisions are the ones making the decisions. If you do not make this designation, the courts or medical facilities may be choosing someone on your behalf.

This can be an issue. In many cases, the powers of attorney are given to a spouse, child or other family member. But what happens if you do not have any family or are at odds with your family? What if you wish to have one person making financial decisions for you but need someone else to make medical decisions? The only way to preserve your wishes is to designate your powers of attorney and have the proper, legal documentation that supports these designations.

Discuss Powers Of Attorney In Florida With Us

For answers to questions like “what is a power of attorney” and to learn how a medical power of attorney varies from a health care surrogate, call our office at 772-600-4203 or toll free at 888-340-4073, or email us. We offer reasonable rates and are a member of the AARP Legal Services Network.