Power of Attorney in Norwalk, California

Find the right Power of Attorney attorney in Norwalk, CA

In Norwalk, California, 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.

If you are giving someone power of attorney, it's up to you to decide precisely what kind of decisions they will be able to make, and when they'll be able to make them. In any case, however, it's very important that you completely trust the person to whom you're granting this authority, since any power of attorney, even if it's very limited in scope, can be abused. Obviously, whatever type and amount of power you wish to give will depend on your intentions, as well as many external factors.

One very prevalent reason for granting power of attorney is that the grantor believes that they might become incapacitated, due to age or illness, in the relatively near future, and they want to make sure that their preferences relating to care at the end of their life are followed. Of course, if nobody knows what that person's preferences are, and the patient is unable to express them, family members and doctors will simply have to guess. Obviously, there's a good chance that they could get it wrong. Consequently, you should make your desires well-known to those who will be in a position to implement it, and grant, in writing, a person you trust (such as a spouse, life partner, sibling, or adult child) the power to carry out your wishes, if necessary.

Usually, you can find forms in Norwalk, California that let you easily draft a power of attorney document. However, if a considerable amount of money is at stake, or you wish to grant very specific and limited powers, you should probably consult with a lawyer beforehand.

Types of Power of Attorney Arrangements in Norwalk, California

In Norwalk, California, there are 3 forms of power of attorney. They are:

1. Limited power of attorney - this lets the attorney-in-fact exercise limited authority in a single transaction. It is useful, for example, if someone is buying property in another state, and the deal is nearly done, but a few documents need to be signed. The buyer could give a resident of that state power of attorney, authorizing him or her to complete the transaction on the buyer's behalf. Conveniently, the power automatically terminates when the transaction is complete.

2. Durable power of attorney - this gives the attorney-in-fact much more power than limited power of attorney. It can, in theory, give them unlimited power in a particular area of the principal's affairs. The document should lay out precisely what power the attorney-in-fact will wield. This arrangement, when used carefully, can be very useful, authorizing the attorney-in-fact to make important decisions for the principal as long as is necessary, because it does not automatically disappear after a single transaction. Additionally, the principal can revoke the power of attorney at any time.

3. Springing power of attorney - this is a form of power of attorney which doesn't truly take effect until the occurrence of some stated event. This event can be anything, but it is often the principal becoming disabled. You should be aware, though, that it is not always clear what "disabled" means in such an agreement, which can result in disagreements, resulting in litigation.

Can a Norwalk, California Lawyer Help?

Because setting up a power of attorney agreement is not always straightforward in Norwalk, California, it's never imprudent to at least speak with a lawyer beforehand. As with any legal agreement, there are things that can go wrong, which laypersons may not foresee.

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

Life in Norwalk

Norwalk is a suburb located in Los Angeles County, California. It boasts a population of over 105,000 people and is the California's 58th most populated city. The economy of Norwalk, California is driven largely by retail and entertainment business. Its location close to Los Angeles makes it a popular place for living and recreation.

The city of Norwalk emphasizes the development of arts and culture. For example, Norwalk operates an "Art in Public Places Program", which places internationally- recognized high-caliber sculptures on display throughout the city. The Program is intended to raise awareness of art in Norwalk while at the same time beautifying the city. Due to its artistic appeal, many films and television shows were filmed in Norwalk, such as the Karate Kid, CHiPs, and Monk.

Norwalk is an important city for lawyers as it is home to the Los Angeles County Registrar and Recorder. The Registrar's office has jurisdiction over matters like voter registration and marriage license issuance. It is also responsible for recording legal documentation of real property as well as birth, death, and marriage records. The office services over 2,000 customers per day and maintains over 2 million personal and real property documents.

Lawyers in Norwalk, California are available to assist clients with many different types of legal issues. Norwalk lawyers can provide help for persons filing with the Registrar's office. They also process many legal claims at the Southeast District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, which is located in Norwalk.

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