Power of Attorney in Winter Park

Find Assistance with Estate Planning from Richard A. Heller, P.A.

A power of attorney (POA) is an important legal document and often a valuable component to an estate plan. If you are interested in creating a power of attorney, our Winter Park estate planning lawyers can help. At Richard A. Heller, P.A., our legal team has nearly 60 years of combined legal experience, our attorney Richard A. Heller has an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, a top Superb Rating from AVVO, and a Distinguished Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.

Should you choose to work with our firm to assist you in drafting a power of attorney or another estate planning document such as a will or a trust, you can rest assured that you are in highly capable hands.

About the Florida Power of Attorney

As an adult of sound mind, you have the sole authority to make all of your own financial and legal decisions. But, there may come a time when you may need or want someone else to make one or more decisions for you in the event of your absence or your incapacitation. A power of attorney is a legal document that delegates authority from one individual to another. The creator of the power of attorney is the "principle," and the person who is granted to act on the principle's behalf is the "agent."

A power of attorney has many functions, some of which give another the right to:

• Sell a vehicle
• Sell a home or other property
• Gain access to bank accounts
• Sign a contract
• Make health care decisions
• Handle financial transactions
• Sign legal documents for the principle
• Create trusts and make gifts

A power of attorney is not only an important legal document, but a very powerful one since it's allowing someone else to act in your place. It should be drawn by an attorney to ensure that it meets the principle's specific circumstances; a pre-printed form may not provide you with the desired protection.

In order for a power of attorney to be legally effective in Florida, it must be signed by the principle and two witnesses, and it must be acknowledged by a notary.

Florida powers of attorney are either limited or general. For example, a limited power of attorney gives the agent limited power to conduct a specific act, whereas the general power of attorney gives the agent broader powers to perform any legal act on the principle's behalf.

Most powers of attorney are "durable," meaning they remain effective even if the principle becomes incapacitated, but there are exceptions. The durable power of attorney must provide specific wording that states that it survives the incapacity of the principle.

To learn more about the value of having a power of attorney, contact an Winter Park estate planning lawyer from Richard A. Heller, P.A. today!