A Power Of Attorney Is Crucial To Your Estate Plan
When many people hear about getting an estate plan together, they only think about having a last will and testament drafted by a lawyer, and while that is an important cornerstone of your estate plan, a durable financial power of attorney (POA) is equally important to ensuring you are secured. My name is Gregory L. Heidt, a lawyer in Erie, Pennsylvania, who has assisted clients for over 40 years with protecting their legacies with properly planning their estate. I always recommend that my clients have a financial POA and healthcare directive prepared so that they can have the peace of mind that they deserve.
What Is A Power Of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a legal document which allows you to designate an individual as your legal representative to handle your affairs and your property. There are multiple types of powers of attorney which you can use in your estate plan:
- General power of attorney: allows your designated individual to make decisions for you with regard to your finances and property in the same capacity as you, however it ceases upon your death or incapacitation.
- Durable power of attorney: allows your designated individual to make decisions for you as before, however it only ceases upon your death. This allows for your financial and other assets to be cared for while you are incapacitated.
- Medical power of attorney: also sometimes called an advance directive, health care directive, or a living will, these documents designate an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf only when you are incapacitated.
- Springing power of attorney: this allows for your designated individual to make decisions on your behalf only once you are incapacitated but ending upon your death. This can also be used for military service members when they are deployed to care for their financial assets.
If any of these powers of attorney would work in your situation, then you should speak with me about having one prepared for you.
You Can Rely On Me To Assist You
No matter the reason that you are seeking a power of attorney, you should speak with me and have me assist you with preparing your affairs. Call my office today at Gregory L. Heidt, Attorney At Law, by dialing 814-580-9495 or by completing my online contact form to provide me a brief description of your needs. Together we can create an estate plan that works best for you.