Durable Power of Attorney

A Durable Power of Attorney is a document designed to designate a person of your choice to manage your financial and medical affairs if you are unable to do so. For example, your agent can be in charge of opening and closing bank accounts, buying and selling real estate and signing your tax returns, among other powers. You must have absolute trust in the person you select as your agent. You should carefully review your powers of attorney before signing them to ensure you are comfortable granting your agent all of the powers listed on the documents.

Often, these documents are used when an individual is unavailable to sign a document that requires their signature as a spouse, business partner or other party. Powers of attorney may be limited to certain transactions and specific assets. The effective date of the power of attorney can be tied to a specific date or to an event, such as the onset of a physical or mental disability. Some powers of attorney terminate upon an incapacity or a disability. A Durable Power of Attorney can exist beyond such events or even be made effective by them.

Bezaire, Ledwitz and Associates will help you draft advanced health care directives and financial powers of attorney that will ensure your family and medical providers follow your wishes in the event they must make important medical and financial decisions for you.