What Happens If There Is No Poa In Place?

When a Power of Attorney Is Needed
A Power of Attorney Is a Designated Decision Maker
- Conflict between Family Members in the Event There Is No POA
The Role of the Court in Absence of POA
How to Create a Power of Attorney

When a Power of Attorney Is Needed

Proper estate planning includes planning for both financial and medical scenarios where someone might become incapacitated and requires the assistance of a trusted person to act on their behalf. Normally, people form a power of attorney in advance of any anticipated physical problems that would prevent them from acting in their own best interests both financially and medically. A power of attorney allows them to appoint an agent to manage their affairs when they become unable to do so.

A Power of Attorney Is a Designated Decision Maker

A durable power of attorney, while designed as a beneficial tool for a person in need of assistance with financial or medical decisions, is also an invaluable instrument for family members and relatives. It provides for a definite decision making process and allows a trusted person to make those decisions rather than someone the court appoints or a medical staff unfamiliar with the patient’s wishes. It is a vital estate planning tool that every person should consider completing prior to actually needing one.

Nominating a Power of Attorney

A power of attorney template or POA form can be used to nominate a power of attorney to represent an individual and their affairs in several different areas should they become incapacitated.

Conflict between Family Members in the Event There Is No POA

What are the consequences of not having a power of attorney prepared in the case of incapacitation? Generally, decisions about a person’s financial and medical management are made according to the laws of the state they live in. In the event of medical incapacitation, usually a family member will be called upon to make any important decisions in the absence of a power of attorney. In this situation, difficulties can arise if there is more than one family member and they differ on the course of medical action.

Even more difficulties can arise if there are no family members available at all. In this case, medical decisions will be made by attending medical staff according to what they feel is in the best interest of the patient, and this might not always be what the patient actually wanted, but the absence of any durable power of attorney makes this inevitable.

The Role of the Court in Absence of POA

In the case of financial estate management, the absence of a durable power of attorney can lead to time consuming and expensive remedies for family members if proper planning has not been completed. Generally, if a person has not assigned an agent to act on their behalf, control of financial management reverts to the state.

Probate courts will usually appoint a guardian or conservator to oversee the management of a person’s estate if there is no legally appointed agent acting on their behalf. If this occurs, family members will have to petition the court for access to the person’s finances. This, of course, takes time and money and can lead to additional frustration on top of dealing with an incapacitated relative.

How to Create a Power of Attorney

Create a power of attorney for a wide range of uses today. Select from one of the types of power of attorney below to create, download, and print your POA right now.

Durable Power of Attorney
Medical Power of Attorney

What Happens If There Is No POA in Place?

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