Irvine Powers of Attorney Lawyer

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Powers of Attorney in Irvine, CA

You might think that the entire purpose of an estate plan is to ensure that your beneficiaries receive your property after you pass away. However, your estate plan can also protect you while you’re still alive by including powers of attorney. These legal documents can go into effect upon incapacitation, and then someone can step in to manage your financial and personal affairs. Once the documents are in place, you won’t have to worry about your family dealing with the burden of petitioning for a conservatorship. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about someone you don’t know or trust managing your affairs.

Our Irvine powers of attorney lawyer can discuss different options for your healthcare and financial needs. Then, the attorney can draft the documents, so they’ll be ready in the event of incapacitation.

Irvine Powers of Attorney Options

Your Irvine powers of attorney lawyer will review your situation to determine which documents you need. Your options include a:

General power of attorney
Healthcare power of attorney
Limited power of attorney

When Do Durable Powers Of Attorney Go Into Effect?

Your lawyer can add springing or immediate powers of attorney to your estate plan. If you choose an immediate power of attorney, it will be active the moment it’s finalized. That means the agent you select will immediately have the powers granted in the document.

Most often, Irvine residents select springing powers of attorney to add to their estate plans. Your Irvine powers of attorney lawyer will add a trigger to the power of attorney that will cause it to spring into effect. For instance, your attorney could state that it will go into effect if you become incapacitated. If that happens, the agent will then be able to act on your behalf. However, as long as you are of sound mind and body, the agent cannot make decisions for you.

Healthcare Powers Of Attorney

Your Irvine powers of attorney lawyer might advise you to include a healthcare advance directive in your estate plan. Also known as a power of attorney for healthcare, you will use this to name someone to make decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do so.

This document will only go into effect if you cannot communicate your healthcare decisions, so you won’t have to worry about the agent attempting to make decisions for you when you can still make them yourself.

You should choose an agent who understands and will honor your wishes. Additionally, you help the agent by supplementing the healthcare advance directive with a living will. This document will outline the extraordinary measures you want providers to take near the end of your life, if you want any at all. Then, the agent can use it as a guide when choosing your care.

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How Many Agents Can You Have?

You can name one or multiple agents to act on your behalf when drafting powers of attorney. Additionally, you can choose the same person to serve for your general and healthcare power of attorney if you wish. Keep in mind that you should include a backup if you only select one agent. Then, if that person isn’t available to serve as your agent, the backup can step in to take his or her place. By having a backup, you can help your family avoid the emotional toll of going to court to receive decision-making powers.

Can You Revoke A Power Of Attorney?

As long as you aren’t incapacitated, you can revoke powers of attorney. Additionally, you can modify it any time if you wish. Your Irvine powers of attorney lawyer can help you update the document or revoke it. Then, the attorney can draft one in its place if needed. That way, you will have everything you need in the event of incapacitation.