SIERRA VISTA POWER OF ATTORNEY LAWYER

Through the process of marriage, divorce, other life events, or just proper contingency planning, it is advisable for all adults to take the proper legal steps to make sure there is documentation in place to dictate how you want decisions made in the event of your incapacity.   Many times the need for someone else to step in on your legal behalf to make major decisions that can affect your life and finances can come about from a sudden and unexpected need such as an accident.  There’s no way of predicting when these events can occur and how long they may affect a person’s ability to make their own decisions.  Creating a power of attorney is the solution and preventative measure for these types of situations. 

Our Sierra Vista power of attorney lawyers can assist with the formal process of creating the proper legal documents so you can have peace-of-mind knowing your power of attorney is valid and enforceable when you need it most.  

Whether you need to establish or modify a power of attorney for yourself, or you are acting as power of attorney for someone else, we can help you determine how this important legal process can help protect you and your family. Our team is here for you.

Schedule a (30 min) consultation with us today by calling (520) 335-8037 to get started.

WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?

A power of attorney is a legal document that authorizes one individual to act on behalf of and make decisions for another person under certain circumstances.  There are different types of power of attorney, including a general and a limited power of attorney.  

A general power of attorney allows someone to act on your behalf for a broad variety of purposes. Whereas, a limited power of attorney can be used when you only want to grant authority to someone else for a specific reason, such as signing a particular document in your absence. 

The person named or appointed to act on behalf of someone is referred to as the “agent”. 

A durable power of attorney is recommended when naming an agent, otherwise that person’s authority will end if you are incapacitated, which is often when you need someone to step in on your behalf the most.  This will cover financial and certain other decisions.  Separately, a health care power of attorney is highly recommended to make sure your agent is authorized to make the health-related decisions you want but are unable to.

The particular requirements that must legally be followed to create a valid power of attorney are established in each separate state and it is important to make sure you work with a power of attorney lawyer and legal team familiar with Arizona laws. Sierra Vista Divorce Law knows how to help you create an enforceable power of attorney. 

WHY DO I NEED A POWER OF ATTORNEY?

While it can be scary to think about the fact that you or someone you care about could become unable to manage your affairs, it can be even scarier to think about what could happen under those circumstances if the proper steps have not been taken ahead of time. We often associate things like a power of attorney with old age, but the reality is incapacitating events can affect anyone at any time. 

Incapacity can occur as a result of dementia, other major illness, or injury, making you unable to communicate or make informed choices.  Whenever incapacity happens, health care decisions as well as financial decisions will need to be made on behalf of that individual for days, weeks, months, or possibly even years. 

Where there is no power of attorney document to spell out your preferences, your loved ones may be forced to determine who should act on your behalf.  And, while it may seem like the people close to you know you and should know what you would want, there can often be times where the important people in a person’s life disagree on major decisions on an incapacitated individual’s behalf, or they may simply lack the legal authority or access to act on your behalf, even if they are perfectly clear on your wishes and happy to follow them.  In addition, your loved ones may need to get a court involved, which can potentially waste valuable time and come at a significant expense.

Whether you are seeking to protect your own needs, or the needs of a family member (especially aging family members who have not already done proper legal planning, it is highly recommended you establish a written power of attorney to make certain you have an agent acting for you who you trust, and to save your family from grief and expense. 

HOW CAN A SIERRA VISTA POWER OF ATTORNEY LAWYER HELP ME?

When you contact us, you will be represented by qualified and compassionate lawyers who want to make sure your rights and interests are fully served.  We are here to assist in determining whether a power of attorney is needed, how to draft it to ensure it will be comprehensive, to assist with any questions your agent may have, or to help you navigate the landscape of acting as an agent if you have been appointed as one. 

If you or someone you care about have not already protected your interests and wishes by establishing a power of attorney, or you would like a second opinion on a previously written power of attorney, our dedicated legal team is here to help.  Contact us for a Sierra Vista power of attorney consultation today at (520) 335-8037.