Notarize Your Power of Attorney Before You Go Into The Hospital
A power of attorney is a written authorization for a person to represent or act on another’s behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor.
Here are some examples (from legalzoom) of situations in which Power Of Attorney is necessary.
- Mr. Jones lives alone, has no close family, and is scheduled for major surgery in a few weeks.
- Ms. Smith has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
- Mr. and Mrs. Adams will be out of the country for the next 6 months but have a house they need to sell.
- Ms. Davis is single, runs a successful business, and has no medical or economic concerns.
The purpose of a general power of attorney is to give a person or organization the power to act on someone’s behalf. The acts might include financial and/or business transactions, purchasing life insurance, operating a business, settling claims, and possibly buying life insurance.
Power Of Attorney is a tool allowing an appointed person to handle certain matters when someone is physically or mentally incapable of doing so themselves.
Unfortunately, the appointment of Power Of Attorney is often necessary when someone is in their most vulnerable state, such as a hospital patient, or patient of an extended care facility, or nursing home.
It is the Notary’s responsibility to act in the Signer’s best interest, and though a Notary cannot advise someone with regard to a document’s content, a Notary must affirm that a Signer understands the contents of a document and that they are not signing any document(s) under duress, in which case the Notary must decline notarization.
An original Power Of Attorney document must be signed and notarized, and several copies certified for banks and other businesses who will not allow a Power Of Attorney agent to act on someone’s behalf unless they have received a certified copy of the POA.
To have your Power Of Attorney directive notarized at your location, call or text us at (813) 591-0820.
The information above is not legal advice and should not be taken as such.
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