Protect your family with a financial power of attorney

A financial power of attorney, sometimes called a power of attorney for finances, allows you to appoint a designated attorney-in-fact to transact personal business on your behalf.

Often, a durable financial power of attorney agreement is part of a larger estate plan as just one of a number of estate planning documents.

Financial power of attorney agreements grant someone the authority to make decisions around your finances and real estate when you're unable.

An attorney-in-fact, or “agent,” is a person who has been given authority to act on someone's behalf by a financial power of attorney document. They don't have to be a licensed attorney, but they do have to be over age 18.

A durable POA continues even after someone can no longer make their own decisions, such as if they fall into a coma. A non-durable POA ends when the principal is incapacitated—for example, if the principal falls into a coma, the non-durable POA would end.

Yes. As long as you have the legal capacity to sign, you can amend a power of attorney, or revoke it and create a new one. Be sure to consult your state's rules for the signing requirements for an amendment or revocation. Our power of attorney packages include unlimited revisions for 30 days. If you’d like to revise after 30 days, you can purchase additional revisions or subscribe to our legal plan, which includes unlimited revisions for one year.

The power of attorney ends if the principal dies, whether the agreement is durable or not. Some power of attorneys are already limited by design. For example, a power of attorney may grant an attorney-in-fact the power to make real estate decisions, but not grant them financial powers. Those decisions are made by the principal when the form is created.

Most states recognize powers of attorney signed in other states. But it may be a good idea to get a new one when you move. Check with an attorney from our network to get advice on your specific situation.