There may be times when you have business that needs to be done but you can’t be there to do it. Rather than delay accomplishing your task, you could consider executing a power of attorney form. Through a validly executed power of attorney, you as the principal would grant authority to someone else to act for you and on your behalf.
A Power of Attorney can be a valuable tool for taking care of business and financial or even health care matters. If you are over 18 years old, are of sound legal mind you can execute a valid power of attorney which creates an agreement between you and your agent.
The powers given to the agent (person you choose) can be broad or limited. It’s critical that you have full faith and trust in this person or else if they abuse their power, things can get messy quickly.
Your power of attorney form should be specific about what powers are given even if they are broad and it should clearly define the obligations and responsibilities of the agent. The form should also have a time period for duration of the authority and there should be a provision for you to be able to revoke or take back the authority for yourself. Sometimes the duration is for your entire lifetime and at other times, people use a power of attorney to cover time when they are on vacation, serving in the military or other short term time frame.
Make sure the form you use is compliant for your particular state law. While many states will honor a power of attorney executed in a different state, it is preferred to follow the law of the state where the principal resides.