Sixty Plus Program - Powers of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a written statement authorizing another person to act on your behalf. If you are somehow unable to conduct your personal business, such as your banking, or make decisions for yourself, a power of attorney can be a very useful legal tool.

• The power of attorney does not replace your personal power to handle your affairs, it adds someone else who ALSO can handle them.
• A Durable Power of Attorney is one that says it is effective despite a disability that leaves you unable to conduct your personal business (or it may say that it becomes "effective upon disability").
• You must be mentally competent to sign a power of attorney. If you are not, the power of attorney is NOT the solution to the problem. Basically, the test of whether you are competent to sign a power of attorney is:
  • Do you understand what the document is?
  • Do you know what property or business will be affected by the power of  attorney document?

  • Do you understand what will happen under this power of attorney?

• You must be able (and willing) to intend to give a specific person the full power and authority to handle all your finances and property.