Powers of attorney grant the recipient the power to take certain actions on behalf of the grantor, when that person is unable to act for him or herself. Powers of attorney may be restricted for use only in specific situations (such as physical or mental incapacitation, or inaccessibility due to travel or imprisonment), or they may be written to grant liberal authority to sign checks, buy or sell personal property, or act on behalf of another person in many other situations.
To schedule a consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania estate-planning lawyer, contact West & Associates, P.C. We can explain powers of attorney, and ensure that clients understand that a power of attorney is not valid after the death of the person granting it.
Discuss how a power of attorney can greatly simplify legal transactions for your family members or business partners in the event of your illness or absence. Learn how a power of attorney may prevent future legal complications for your next of kin in case you have a stroke or are unconscious after a car accident. Without a power of attorney, such a situation may mean that your family will need to obtain a guardianship, which will add costs, and result in inconvenience and delay.
Typically, a husband and wife draft powers of attorney designating each other as principal attorney-in-fact, but other designations are also common, such as parent to child, domestic partner to domestic partner, or business partner to business partner.
A power of attorney can be as limited in scope as the person who signs it wishes it to be. It can also be revoked at any time.
Schedule a review of existing wills, trusts, and powers of attorney (durable power of attorney, special power of attorney, health care power of attorney) with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania lawyer, or draft new ones from scratch. Contact West & Associates, P.C. in North Pittsburgh (Glenshaw) through this site or by calling 1 (800) 738-2261.