Your Detail-Oriented, Orange County, CA Power Of Attorney Law Firm
Looking to set up your future? The Law Office of Rebecca Sommers can help you preserve your wishes.
The world is full of uncertainties and the last thing you want is to leave important decisions to other people during those uncertainties. With a Power of Attorney or a POA, you can ensure that your wishes are carried out even when you cannot act for yourself.
With a power of attorney, you can appoint someone trustworthy to manage your medical, personal and financial affairs while you’re incapacitated. Considering the importance and value of the document, you need to work with a reputable and skilled power of attorney lawyer who will ensure the document is crafted the way you want and it is legally binding.
Types Of Power Of Attorney
There are several types of power of attorneys to consider. Each of them serves a different purpose and is suited for different circumstances. The types of power of attorney we can help you with include the following:
- General Power Of Attorney: This is a broad power of attorney document that gives the person you select the legal capacity to handle your affairs. The general power of attorney can make various decisions which include business and financial affairs. The general power of attorney is flexible, meaning you can rescind it at any time or name a new attorney-in-fact.
- Limited Power Of Attorney: A limited power of attorney is the complete opposite of a general power of attorney. While the latter has a broad focus, the limited power of attorney only authorizes to act in specific situations.
- Healthcare Or Medical Power Of Attorney: A medical POA gives your selected agent the capacity to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. The document only allows the agent to make health decisions for you if you’re incapacitated unless you specify otherwise. You may consider a health or medical power of attorney if you’ve been involved in an accident and have a surgery lineup or you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. The POA should also set forth your end-of-life wishes and the person responsible for carrying out those wishes.
- Durable Power Of Attorney: Besides setting out your wishes in the power of attorney, you can also decide when you want the POA to take effect in Orange County, CA. The POA authorization can be durable or non-durable. It can also be immediate or springing. In the case of a durable POA, you direct your agent to manage financial and business affairs on your behalf if you’re not able to do it yourself. If the POA is non-durable, the power is only conveyed for a limited period. Springing powers of attorney allow your selected agent to act only when you become incapacitated.
Call For A Free Assessment Of Your Needs | (657) 571-1241
Can A Power Of Attorney Override A Will?
It’s essential to understand the power behind the power of an attorney and what it can and can’t do. Although a power of attorney is crucial to your estate planning efforts, it does not have the capacity to allow your agent to make changes to your will.
If changes need to be made and you don’t have the required mental capacity, then your power of attorney lawyer should decline to assist with the will.
When Happens When You Don’t Have A POA In Place?
A power of attorney is a crucial part of every estate plan. If you don’t have one and become medically or mentally incapacitated, then the courts have to step in.
The process is more or less the same as when you die without a will. If the courts step in, the process becomes costly, draining, and time-consuming for all the parties.
The court will determine guardianship or conservatorship. They will also appoint an agent to make the financial and medical decisions for you. This agent is called a guardian or conservator.
In most cases, courts go for a close family member. But it doesn’t always go this way. Even if it does, there’s no assurance that the selection of the court is what you would have preferred.
Call For A Free Assessment Of Your Needs | (657) 571-1241
Estate Planning Done The Right Away!
Don’t take any chances, plan your future with a power of attorney while you still have the capacity.
Thinking about preparing a power of attorney in Orange County, CA? The Law Office of Rebecca Sommers can help!
We have years of legal experience specializing in estate planning. With our dedication to providing our clients with customized legal services tailored to your estate plan blueprints and their needs, we can help you plan your future while you still can.
We understand how sensitive the law of power of attorney is. We can help you understand the law and how you can use it to ensure your wishes are followed even when you don’t have the power to enforce them yourself.
If you’re looking for a power of attorney near me, you can contact us at (657) 571-1241 to get started on your power of attorney and other estate planning legal documents.
