Creating Powers Of Attorney In Crestview, Florida
As you age, or if you suffer an incapacitating illness or injury, it’s important to have powers of attorney in place. Not having powers of attorney can lead to confusion, conflict and heartache among family members. Your loved ones might disagree about the handling of your financial and medical decision matters if you become incapacitated. Creating powers of attorney can clarify who has permission to make those decisions.
At Ryan M. Mynard, Attorney at Law, P.A., I often help my clients create powers of attorney along with other estate planning documents like wills and trusts.
To schedule an initial consultation with an experienced estate planning lawyer, please call my office in Crestview at 850-634-4656 or contact me via email. I advise individuals and families throughout Okaloosa County and northwest Florida.
What Is A Power Of Attorney In Florida?
A power of attorney (POA) in Florida is a legal document that grants someone the authority to make financial, health care or legal decisions on behalf of another person. This authority can have a range of limitations but is meant to protect someone when they can no longer manage their needs because of injury or illness.
What Can Powers Of Attorney Do?
A comprehensive estate plan should include durable health care powers of attorney. There are two kinds to consider: financial power of attorney and medical power of attorney.
When you give someone financial power of attorney, you give that person permission to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. For example, if you need extended hospital treatment or nursing home care, the person with power of attorney can pay your bills and handle other financial matters on your behalf.
With medical power of attorney, you give someone permission to make decisions regarding your medical treatment in the event that you become incapacitated. You can specify what kinds of end-of-life care you want or do not want, and the person with medical power of attorney – otherwise known as a health care surrogate – can make decisions in accordance with your wishes. This may also include living wills and advance directives.
With financial and medical powers of attorney, your loved ones’ decision-making burdens can be alleviated because you have documented your wishes and named a trusted person to carry them out.
In the absence of a designated power of attorney, it may be necessary to establish guardianship of an elderly or disabled loved one.
Schedule A Consultation
To speak with an estate planning lawyer with more than 25 years of experience, please call 850-634-4656 or send me an email. I would be honored to speak with you about powers of attorney or any other estate planning matter.