Houston Power of Attorney Lawyer
There may be times in your life when you need someone else to be able to legally act on your behalf. You may be incapacitated and need someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, or you may be out of the country and need someone to handle your affairs while you are away. Most people think of a Power of Attorney when they think of their elderly parents and the need to act on their behalf. However, each of us, in our lifetime, may need someone else to make decisions on our behalf in a time of absence or incapacity. It is important to have a skilled attorney familiar with drafting Powers of Attorney help craft the document right for you.
What is a Power of Attorney?
In general, a Power of Attorney allows you to give either very narrow or broad authority to another to act on your behalf. This power can last the entirety of your lifetime or it can be terminated at the onset of certain future events or dates. There are different types of Powers of Attorney, including:
- Durable Power of Attorney – the person authorized to act will make decisions for the principal as they see fit, and this power will remain in effect indefinitely unless a termination date is specified.
- Medical Power of Attorney – allows the person authorized to act to make health care-related decisions for the principal if they are unable to make their own health care decisions. A Medical Power of Attorney or Living Will should be completed detailing what the principal would like to have happen in various medical scenarios. It is important that this document is completed correctly.
- General Power of Attorney – gives the person authorized to act on the principal’s behalf a broad power over a specific area or all areas of the principal’s life. This type of authority should be given with caution and only to someone you trust completely to carry out your financial and personal matters.
- Special Power of Attorney – conveys a very specific power to an authorized person. A Special Power of Attorney deals with a specific matter and can be designed to terminate once the specific matter has been completed.
Why hire a Houston Power of Attorney lawyer?
When thinking about enacting powers of attorney, work with an attorney that has considerable experience with these documents. It is important to convey only the intended power for the intended time and purpose. The Martin Law Firm provides each client with detailed and accurate powers of attorney that not only protect their interests but also accomplish their goals.