Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney in Woods Cross, UT
Whether you are helping care for aging relatives or a close family member requires assistance with their personal and financial affairs, establishing a power of attorney may be a great way to help them. At Cummings Law Firm, we can help you establish a comprehensive plan to best care for your loved ones.
What is a Power of Attorney
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which one person (referred to as the principal) gives another person (referred to as the agent) the authority to act on their behalf. The power of attorney document can be very broad, allowing someone to perform a variety of tasks for you. Some of these tasks include:
- Managing bank accounts and paying bills
- Running a company or business
- Applying for public benefits
- Making medical decisions
- Managing and selling personal property
- Signing contracts and agreements
A well-crafted POA serves as a valuable legal tool, allowing someone to manage another person’s personal and financial affairs without needing to establish a more complex arrangement through the court system. By avoiding court-appointed guardians or conservators, individuals maintain more decision-making authority. Moreover, a
Utah Power of Attorney
In order to execute a power of attorney in Utah, the document must be signed by the principal in the presence of a notary public. If the principal cannot physically sign the document, another person acting under the direction of the principal in their conscious presence may also sign the document before the notary public.
In the state of Utah, the principal may not name the owner, operator, health care provider, or employee of a hospital or similar residential care facility they reside in as the agent unless they are married, legal guardians, or next of kin. The only exception to this rule is if the agent’s authority is strictly limited to assisting the principal in establishing eligibility for Medicaid.
When to Consider a POA
A power of attorney is an incredibly useful tool for people who are in the midst of estate planning but are losing the ability to understand the repercussions of their actions. By giving someone else the power to make decisions for them, a principal can rest assured that their estate is being properly cared for and managed.
Establishing a power of attorney is common in the following situations:
- An individual is aging and begins to exhibit signs of a worsening medical condition that may impact their mental capacity, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.
- An individual becomes physically disabled and can no longer sign important documents.
- An individual wants to give someone else the power to make decisions on their behalf.
You may want or need a power of attorney created for many more reasons. If you are considering a power of attorney but aren’t sure whether it is the most appropriate course of action, speaking to our team at Cummings Law Firm can help you decide if this is the right decision for you and your loved
Utah POA and Estate Planning You Can Trust
If it is time for you or a loved one to establish power of attorney, working with a legal team you can trust is essential to ease your mind. At Cummings Law Firm, we can help you establish a power of attorney that will help you care for your loved ones most effectively. If you would like to speak to us about power of attorney to see if it is the best fit for your current situation, contact our team today to schedule a consultation.
