A Power of Attorney Acts When You Can’t

Article by BPBS attorney David Lefton, 513 533-2034

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Everyone has day-to-day affairs to manage, such as paying the bills, banking, and other routine activities of modern life. Many people think that in the event of an incapacitating illness or accident, their spouse, parent, or adult child can automatically and legally act for them. Unfortunately, this is often wrong.

A Power of Attorney is a written legal document in which you appoint someone else to act as your agent on your behalf when you are unable to act for yourself. In general, your agent can take any action or perform any legal function which you have a legal right to perform.

Failing to have a Power of Attorney can cause extreme difficulties when someone is stricken with an illness or injury rendering him or her unable to make decisions or to manage financial or medical affairs. There may be no one who can access accounts, financial information, or take other actions that are necessary, even leaving medical decisions to strangers.

What happens if you do not have a Power of Attorney? You leave your decisions to be made by someone else - perhaps someone appointed by a court.

Click here read more about this important planning tool or call your BPBS attorney.