{"id":5290,"date":"2019-06-11T12:36:48","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T16:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/collitonlaw.com\/?p=5290"},"modified":"2019-06-13T12:38:19","modified_gmt":"2019-06-13T16:38:19","slug":"how-to-stay-in-control-when-appointing-a-power-of-attorney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collitonlaw.com\/how-to-stay-in-control-when-appointing-a-power-of-attorney\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stay In Control When Appointing a Power of Attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disability can strike suddenly and is one of the reasons appointing an agent on your behalf to act when you cannot is so important.\u00a0 <\/span>One of the most common reasons seniors likely hesitate to sign a Power of Attorney appointing another person to act on their behalf is fear of loss of control and exploitation.\u00a0 <\/span>In this respect, as an elder law attorney, I admit some conflict.\u00a0 <\/span>On the one hand I have seen instances where an individual becomes disabled without having signed a Power of Attorney, something that can be acquired at reasonable cost and with minimal aggravation, and there the only alternative is for an\u00a0 <\/span>interested party to file for guardianship.\u00a0 <\/span>Guardianship is time consuming, expensive even when not contested, can limit the individual\u2019s freedom, and may result in appointing someone the person would not want.\u00a0 <\/span>Guardianship can, however, be the right answer in the right case.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand those seniors who believe that Powers of Attorney are powerful documents and require thought are right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is how to keep you, the senior, in the \u201cdriver\u2019s seat\u201d when designating an Agent under Power of Attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n