Power of Attorney (POA)

Protect yourself by appointing someone you trust as your POA to make legal decisions on your behalf when you can’t.

WHAT IS POWER OF ATTORNEY?

Gives legal authority that allows someone to make decisions regarding your finances and more.

Taking the time to formally establish a Power of Attorney (POA) might just be the best thing you ever do when it comes to your Estate Planning. (Yes, a POA is considered a part of your overall Estate Planning efforts). The legal document can protect you and your interests by naming an attorney-in-fact (also known as an agent) and granting them the authority to act as you (the principal) if you’re ever unable to act on your own. POAs are commonly used in cases where the principal is disabled, ill or just unable to be physically present to sign documents.

A POA might be authorized to make decisions about your finances, your property or your medical care. You can create authorizations to be as specific, or as broad, as you want, and you can end them for any reason, at any time. Note that there are different types of POAs - for example, whereas a conventional POA terminates if you become incapacitated, a “Durable POA” stays in place.

Create your POA today, so you can be confident someone you trust will always be your advocate, with your best interests at heart.

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WHAT TO INCLUDE

Name Your POA Today

It’s so important to have a POA in place. A Power of Attorney can be as inclusive as you want - create it to provide the exact protection you need, exactly how you need it. You can include authority to act the following in a designated Power of Attorney document:

Financial decisions
Guardian decisions
Gifting decisions
Healthcare decisions about giving (or withholding) medical care

Choose Your POA in 3 Easy Steps

It may seem daunting, but the truth is, you can have a POA designated in a matter of minutes. Just follow these steps, which will walk you through the process.

Choose What Type of POA You Need
Selecting the type of POA you need is easy if you have specific goals and needs in mind.
Choose Who You’ll Appoint
Select someone you can trust, who you know will have your best interest at heart and who will respect your wishes.
Make It Legal
To be legally binding, a POA must be signed and notarized. It’s a good idea to have multiple copies on hand - give one to your agent and keep one or more with your other Estate Planning documents.

Start your estate plan

Choose Your POA in 3 Easy Steps

It may seem daunting, but the truth is, you can have a POA designated in a matter of minutes. Just follow these steps, which will walk you through the process.

Choose What Type of POA You Need
Selecting the type of POA you need is easy if you have specific goals and needs in mind.
Choose Who You’ll Appoint
Select someone you can trust, who you know will have your best interest at heart and who will respect your wishes.
Make It Legal
To be legally binding, a POA must be signed and notarized. It’s a good idea to have multiple copies on hand - give one to your agent and keep one or more with your other Estate Planning documents.

Start your estate plan

TRUST & WILL

It's the smart, modern way to create & manage your estate planning documents.

1

Make a list of your goals.
List your goals for your Estate Plan. Think about where you are in life right now, and where you want to go. Having this understanding allows you to seek out an estate planning attorney who can provide exactly what you’re looking for.
2

Talk to several estate planning attorneys.
Talk to more than one estate planning attorney before you decide who to work with. You’ll find they all have a different way of working with clients, and some will seem like a better “fit” for your style. That’s OK...you want to trust them and have confidence in what they’re doing for you.
3

Understand the fees.
One of the major reasons people tend to put off estate planning is they’re afraid of the cost. Don’t let that deter you. Working with the right estate planning attorney means it needs to be a good financial fit, too. When you work with a Trust & Will estate planning attorney, it can be the best of both worlds...you get the expert estate planning advice you know you can trust, but it’s also affordable!

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Your dedicated support team.

Questions about your plan? Don’t rely on googling or guesswork - your support team is on the case. Even if we’re not in-office, we always respond as soon as possible. We’re here to make the process easy.

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