Vancouver Power of Attorney Lawyer

Whether you have been asked to be someone’s agent or you intend to give someone else your power of attorney, you should be very careful about the extent and duration of the authority you are receiving or granting.

A Vancouver power of attorney lawyer at Res Nova Law can help ensure that your power of attorney documents are properly drafted and witnessed. Our estate planning attorneys can also verify whether they are appropriate for the circumstances that may require them.

Are There Different Types of Powers of Attorney?

You may be able to draft an omnibus power of attorney that addresses a broad range of topics, but the better practice is to utilize separate documents that focus on specific topics. For example, your power of attorney lawyer in Vancouver can draft:

• A durable power of attorney for estate planning purposes, which devolves authority on an individual to manage your assets and finances when you are disabled as a result of chronic illness or accidental injuries
• A financial power of attorney, which becomes effective under conditions defined in the document and enables your agent to make financial decisions on your behalf, even if you are fully capable of making those decisions for yourself
• A healthcare and medical power of attorney, which enables your agent to direct the actions of your doctors and medical caregivers when you cannot communicate those decisions yourself
• Unique or ad hoc powers of attorney that give your agent temporary authority to act for you—for example, in real estate closings

Our team can advise you on what may be the best option for your specific circumstances.

What Is Required To Make a Power of Attorney Legal and Valid?

In all cases, the legality and validity of a power of attorney is governed by Washington’s Uniform Power of Attorney Act, RCW 11.125.010. A Vancouver lawyer from our firm can verify that your power of attorney documents are in full compliance with the Act’s requirements.

The document must be signed in ink and dated, and a notary public must attest to the grantor’s identity and signature. As an alternative to a notary, two disinterested adult witnesses can sign and verify that the grantor signed the document voluntarily.

With this last requirement, a power of attorney grantor can make an error and jeopardize the validity of the document if they use witnesses who are related to them by blood or marriage or who will realize benefits as a result of the authorities granted in the power of attorney.

Banking and financial institutions will more readily take actions directed by a power of attorney agent if the document is both notarized and witnessed. This is why experienced lawyers who handle power of attorney issues generally recommend that the document be attested by a notary and signed by two disinterested witnesses.

Contact a Power of Attorney Lawyer in Vancouver Today

Individuals who give someone their power of attorney and the agents authorized to act on their behalf generally do not realize that the document may be flawed until they attempt to rely on it in a financial transaction or as a basis for making medical decisions. Correcting or replacing the document at that time will be difficult, if not impossible, if the grantor is fully disabled or incapacitated.

You can avoid this problem by working with a Vancouver power of attorney lawyer at Res Nova Law to draft and manage the execution and attestation of the power of attorney document you need. Please contact us to schedule a conference with one of our attorneys today.