Is Creating a Power of Attorney Form Online a Good Idea?
The Internet has helped to usher in an age of do-it-yourself forms where more and more people are getting confident about using websites to do legal processes. You can fill out a will online, and you can even create a power of attorney. But just because you can create a power of attorney using a DIY website does not mean that you should.
What Is A Power Of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a document where you give someone the power to sign contracts in your name and handle certain types of business. A power of attorney can be in effect while you are still able to make decisions, or it can kick in when you become unable to care for yourself. For example, if you want to be able to sign contracts on the other side of the country and digital signatures will not do, then you would set someone on the other side of the country up with a power of attorney.
Why Is A DIY Power Of Attorney A Bad Idea?
Despite what some DIY legal websites might tell you, setting up a power of attorney is not a simple process. It is not just a matter of filling out a form and then having that form notarized and filed with your local county government. There is much more to it than all of that.
First of all, there are different types of power of attorney arrangements and you need to understand which type applies to your situation. Within every power of attorney document are very specific sections that must be filled out properly if the document is going to be legally binding. There is a lot that can go wrong with a power of attorney that is not properly executed.
Proofreading
One of the most important parts of submitting an important document such as a power of attorney is to have the document proofread by a legal professional. If you are not a legal professional, then you proofreading your own DIY legal form is not going to give you the results you are looking for. If you do submit an incorrect document, you won’t find out until you try to use it and at that point you would need an attorney to fix the situation.
Our firm has many years of estate planning experience and the power of attorney is a significant part of estate planning. Our attorneys understand all of the nuances that go into a power of attorney, and we will be able to troubleshoot or solve any problems that may come up when we take care of your power of attorney for you. Instead of taking chances with your power of attorney, we recommend that you contact one of our professional estate planning lawyers today.