General information about aging, care, and legal authority. Benefits rules and individual documents require current professional review.
A power of attorney authorizes an agent to act during the principal's lifetime within the powers granted.
Define the immediate decision
- Durability, activation, gifting powers, real-estate authority, and institution acceptance should be checked in the document and state law.
Authority, care, and payment records
- the signed power of attorney and any certification of continued validity
- a log of agent transactions and supporting statements
Escalation and safeguards
- Is the power effective now or only after a specified event?
- Does it authorize the exact transaction being considered?
Risks to pause on
- Power-of-attorney authority ends at death; using it afterward can create invalid transactions.