Powers of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to give authority to another person to make financial/legal decisions on your behalf. The person need not be an attorney. Any trusted relative or friend, such as a spouse, partner, relative or friend, can serve as the attorney-in-fact. It is always a good idea to name one alternate agent to serve in the event your first choice becomes unable to serve.

You may choose whether your agent under the power of attorney can make decisions for you now and if you become incapacitated or only if you become incapacitated. Because an accident or illness can require an immediate need for these documents, persons of every age should have them. And, should there be a need for a power of attorney and the person no longer be competent.

Pennsylvania also has a power of attorney for health care. It allows you to appoint a health care agent and an alternate to make health care decisions for you in the event that you can no longer do so. However, if you are competent to make the decisions, then the health care agent does not have the power.