Generally, people in Arvada and Jefferson County know what a power of attorney document is, but they often have misconceptions about how it actually works. A power of attorney is a document used to assign a person or person(s) to act on your behalf. The power of attorney document can be limited or broad depending on how the document is drafted. It can also be temporary or permanent. The fact is, there are a lot of options when it comes to a power of attorney. An experienced power of attorney lawyer can help you determine what type of power of attorney is most appropriate for you.
Common Misconceptions About Power of Attorney in Golden, Colorado
Incompetency and Power of Attorney
A person declared legally incompetent is unable to sign a power of attorney. It’s a common misconception that after a person is deemed incompetent, they can sign a power of attorney to allow a family member or another loved one to handle their affairs. It makes sense that someone would want to have a legal document allowing them to act on behalf of the person who can no longer make those decisions for themselves, but this must be handled prior to any incompetency declarations. Once someone is deemed incompetent, they can no longer enter into legal agreements. If the power of attorney is not taken care of before, then the court will have to appoint a conservator or guardian.
Online Power of Attorney Documents
It’s easy to find power of attorney documents online. Some people think that they can simply find one, print it out, fill in the blanks and they are all set. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. You want any power of attorney documents to meet the legal requirements of the state. These documents are usually universal and many times people find that they are not enforceable because they don’t adequately provide the necessary details of the case, includes language that is too vague or simply doesn’t meet the Colorado legal standards.
Power of Attorney and Unfettered Access
Sometimes, people believe that when they give someone power of attorney or when they are appointed power of attorney for another, they have complete control to do anything they want. This is not accurate. The person appointed power of attorney must act in a person’s best interest. You can also be specific in your power of attorney to what you want the person to have control over.
If you are needing a power of attorney document, contact the best lawyer to draft power of attorney documents in Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Jefferson County at 303-991-7600 for a free initial phone consultation.
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