Power of Attorney in Macon, Georgia

Find the right Power of Attorney attorney in Macon, GA

In Macon, Georgia, power of attorney is an arrangement in which one person (the principal) gives another (the attorney-in-fact) the ability to act on the principal's behalf in specific situations, and under specific conditions. Power of attorney might be granted for any number of reasons, but it is most frequently set up to allow the attorney-in-fact to make financial and medical decisions on the principal's behalf in the event that the principal becomes incapacitated.

Any power-of-attorney arrangement creates the possibility that the attorney-in-fact will abuse the power he or she has been granted, and it's simply not feasible to completely eliminate this possibility. It can be minimized, however, by giving the attorney the bare minimum amount of authority needed to carry out your wishes, and making your wishes known in writing (with copies held by at least one other person) well in advance. When granting power of attorney, you can usually grant as much authority as you want, so you need to be very careful, and only give this legal authority to somebody you know and trust. Also, you should consider your circumstances and objectives when determining what type of power to grant.

If you have a strong preference with respect to end-of-life care, but worry that you might be unable to express your wishes when the time comes, you may want to give a family member the legal authority to make such arrangements for you, if necessary. Of course, the power you grant them should be clearly limited to medical decisions, if that's all you want them to be able to decide. It should additionally clearly state that this power will not directly vest until and unless you actually become incapacitated. For reasons that should be obvious, you should only give this power to a person you trust.

In Macon, Georgia, you can probably find pre-printed forms at office supply stores available for purchase. They already have the basic terms of a power-of-attorney agreement written, and just require the parties to fill in the blanks with names, dates, and a few other details.

Types of Power of Attorney Arrangements in Macon, Georgia

In Macon, Georgia, power of attorney can take three general forms. They are as follows:

1. Limited power of attorney - this is the most limited form of power of attorney. It lets the attorney-in-fact exercise his or her power once, and in only one instance (laid out by the principal, of course). This is commonly used in business deals, if it is not convenient for the actual party to a deal to be physically present for the signing of some documents, it can be done through an attorney-in-fact. You simply need to give them the authority to sign the paperwork on your behalf, and it will be just as binding as if you had signed the documents yourself.

2. Durable power of attorney - this gives the attorney in fact the power to make decisions on a general area of the principal's affairs (for example, the power to access the principal's assets to pay the principal's debts, or the power to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the principal). Unlike limited power of attorney, durable power of attorney does not expire unless the principal revokes it. This is useful, because it permits the attorney-in-fact to make important decisions for the principal if the principal becomes incapacitated.

3. Springing power of attorney - this is similar to durable power of attorney, but the power is conditional. That is, it does not take effect unless some particular event takes place. This event can be anything. Most frequently, however, the agreement permits the attorney-in-fact to make important medical and financial decisions for the principal, only in the event that the principal becomes incapacitated. However, there are sometimes disagreements over whether or not a person is truly "incapacitated" to the point that the power of attorney has been triggered. This can lead to a court of law having to decide the issue.

Can a Macon, Georgia Lawyer Help?

Setting up a power of attorney arrangement in Macon, Georgia can be easy, but it can also be very intricate. It just depends on what you're trying to do. However, if you are at all unsure about how to proceed, it would probably be a good idea to have an attorney draft the agreement for you.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Macon

Macon, Georgia is a medium-sized city located in Bibb County, where it serves as the county seat. It has a population of about 93,000 people.

Human habitation of the area now known as Macon dates back at least 12,000 years, when the area was settled during the last ice age, when peoples from Asia passed over the Bering Strait land bridge and went on to settlethe rest of North America.

One of the major events leading to the establishment of the city of Macon was the construction of an U.S. Army fort in 1806, which was personally ordered by President Thomas Jefferson. After the Civil War, and through Reconstruction, the gradual buildup of America's railroad system established Macon, Georgia as an important transportation hub, owing in part to its central location in Georgia.

Modernly, one of the major economic drivers of the city of Macon is Robins Air Force Base, which is the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia. The air base is just south of Macon.

If you live in or near Macon, Georgia and need a good lawyer, Macon's size and diversity make it very likely that you'll be able to find one. Whatever type of case you have, it's almost certain that there are some Macon, Georgia lawyers who can handle it.

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