Power of Attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana

Find the right Power of Attorney attorney in New Orleans, LA

Power of attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana allows one person to make certain decisions for another, under certain conditions. There are numerous reasons why one might grant power of attorney. However, most of them revolve around the possible incapacitation of the person authorizing the power - so that their wishes can be carried out even if they become unable to express them.

If you are giving someone power of attorney, it's up to you to decide exactly 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.

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 decisions for you, if necessary. Of course, the power you grant them should be precisely limited to medical decisions, if that's all you want them to be able to decide. It should also clearly state that this power will not actually 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 New Orleans, Louisiana, you can sometimes find pre-printed forms that let you easily draft a power-of-attorney agreement. However, if your situation is particularly complex, you should probably have a lawyer draft it for you, to ensure that the agreement is enforceable, or that there are no surprises.

Types of Power of Attorney Arrangements in New Orleans, Louisiana

There are 3 power-of-attorney schemes that can be set up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Which one is best for you will largely depend on your goals, and your individual situation. They are:

1. Limited power of attorney - this lets the attorney-in-fact exercise limited authority in a single transaction. It is useful, for instance, if someone is buying property in another state, and the deal is nearly complete, but a few documents need to be signed. The buyer could give a resident of that state power of attorney, allowing 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 - unlike limited power of attorney, discussed above, this does not automatically expire, though the principal can dissolve it at any time. It is usually not limited to a single transaction, either. Rather, it covers a broader subject matter, though it still has limits. For instance, you could give someone durable power of attorney to make medical decisions for you, but they would only be allowed to act in that context.

3. Springing power of attorney - this is a form of power of attorney which doesn't actually take effect until the occurrence of some specified event. This event can be anything, but it is usually 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 New Orleans, Louisiana Lawyer Help?

Creating a power of attorney agreement in New Orleans, Louisiana is not always easy. And even if the arrangement you want to set up is relatively simple, it might still be a good idea to have a lawyer go over it, just to make sure that there are no flaws that might keep it from being implemented.

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

Life in New Orleans

New Orleans is the largest city in the State of Louisiana and know to most as "The Big Easy" but locals just call it "Nawlins." Despite natural disasters of the past few years, New Orleans has rebounded back once again and plays host to one of the most unique multicultural communities in the entire United States. New Orleans is famous for being the birthplace of jazz, Creole cuisine and culture, and their annual blowout celebrations like Mardi Gras during Spring Break. In fact, tourism plays a major role in the New Orleans economy. It has been consistently voted one of "America's Favorite Cities" by Travel Magazine. New Orleans' sports teams like the Saints and Hornets, local universities like Tulane and Loyola, and cultural attractions like the French Quarter draw a high number of visitors.

The City of New Orleans is known globally for its diverse representation of unique architecture. The Port of New Orleans is touted as one of the busiest and most expansive in the world. The city is a major southern hub for transportation and distribution. Acme Truck Line and Boh Brothers Construction are two of the city's significant employers. In addition to oil refineries and chemical production, New Orleans is home to the second largest coffee roasting plant in the world. It's owned and operated by Folgers Coffee.

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