Power Of Attorney Lawyer in the Casselberry Area

There are many different times when naming a power of attorney (POA) becomes important such as traveling overseas on vacation, growing older, going into the hospital or estate planning. Establishing a POA entails deciding who you want to act on your behalf in the event that you become temporarily or permanently incapacitated later in life.

This relates to a wide range of important life matters, from health care and housing to financial decisions. You must determine who makes these decisions before potential incapacitation. While these are highly personal issues, it is still wise to seek the advice and guidance of a qualified estate planning attorney. With the right legal representation, you will be better able to understand your options and find peace of mind that your best interests will always be protected.

Who Will Make The Decisions For You?

Sadly, too many people attempt to create a POA when it is too late. When an individual can no longer make life decisions for themselves, you are looking at an emergency guardianship. This action comes at a greater cost. A POA costs a few hundred dollars while an emergency guardianship costs several thousand dollars. Taking preemptive action can save you money and added stress down the road. Our team is here to help you create your power of attorney document.

What Is A Power Of Attorney?

A power of attorney grants an individual you choose the ability to act on your behalf. This person can make financial decisions for you if you become incapacitated. Having this person named in advance can save time and trouble down the road if something happens to you and you cannot make these crucial decisions yourself. Naming a power of attorney early, while crafting your estate plan, allows you to choose the person yourself, so you can feel more confident in who will be making choices for you. If you do not have a power of attorney named in your estate plan, your loved ones may have to go to court to appoint someone for you.

Additional Reading: What traits are important in a person named as power of attorney?

Picking the person to control your finances and other decisions if you’re incapacitated is an important and serious matter. Fortunately, you can revoke POA at any time, as long as you are in sound mental capacity at the time.

If You Are Not In A Position To Make Your Own Decisions, Who Will Make Them For You?

At Korshak & Associates, P.A., our estate planning attorneys have spent years helping central Florida families plan for their futures. We have extensive experience in power of attorney matters and can help you determine the right representatives to carry out your wishes. To schedule a no-risk consultation, please contact our firm today at 888-681-4389.

When you meet with one of our attorneys, they will discuss the two options you have for designating power of attorney:

• Health care power of attorney (often called a “health care proxy”) designates an individual who will make medical decisions on your behalf, many times in the event of an emergency. This is different, however, from a health care directive, which is a set of predetermined medical instructions for your doctors and family.
• Financial power of attorney designates who will make financial decisions for you. This can include real estate matters such as selling your home or assets as well as paying your bills and debts.

In many cases, only one family member or personal representative will be designated for both medical and financial decisions. However, numerous individuals find that they are more comfortable having two separate representatives. When you meet with us, we will help you determine the best option for you.

 Is Naming A Power Of Attorney Right For Me?

The idea that decisions could be made on our behalf about our medical treatment or our finances is a frightening one. While this possibility might seem remote, it is certainly not impossible. An accident or an unforeseen medical calamity could put a relatively young and healthy person into a coma or other condition, rendering them unable to communicate their wishes.

One thing you can do is name a power of attorney in case this terrible situation were ever to come to pass. A power of attorney is a document created by a person with the mental capacity to do so in the event of incapacitation. A power of attorney arrangement only would go into effect if you found yourself in this situation; there is no danger of someone taking control of your affairs if you are able to continue to do it yourself.

Isn’t It Better To Be Safe Than Sorry?

Having a power of attorney named, should the conditions warrant, can provide peace of mind for someone concerned about their care in the event of an illness or injury. An attorney-in-fact, as someone given power of attorney is known, can be authorized to make decisions about your medical care in the event of an emergency. This could include not permitting resuscitation efforts, administering certain medications or otherwise advocating for your wishes.

From a financial perspective, someone given power of attorney can take care of your bills and mortgage payments and sell assets such as securities or real estate that you hold in order to pay for your treatment and other needs.

Contact Our Florida Health Care Powers Of Attorney Lawyers

Having an estate plan with your power of attorney named is crucial, and starting early can help you immeasurably down the road. If you’re wondering about power of attorney, or want to begin your estate planning journey now, contact one of our estate planning attorneys today. We have years of experience and have crafted numerous secure estate plans for our clients. We have a deep understanding of this area of the law and look forward to guiding you toward greater peace of mind with estate planning today.

With office in Casselberry, we represent clients throughout central Florida in a range of estate planning matters. To speak with a power of attorney lawyer at Korshak & Associates, P.A., call 888-681-4389. You may also contact us by email.