Power of Attorney in Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Find the right Power of Attorney attorney in Pottstown, PA

Power of attorney in Pottstown, Pennsylvania is a legal setup in which one person (the principal) grants another (the attorney-in-fact) the authority to make legally binding decisions on his or her behalf. This is done for a number of reasons, both personal and business-related, but it is often done to allow the attorney-in-fact to make necessary decisions for the principal in the event that the principal becomes incapacitated or disabled, and thereby unable to make his or her own decisions.

The principal in a power-of-attorney arrangement is the one who decides the scope of the power that the attorney will be able to wield, and the circumstances under which they can wield it. Generally, you can grant the attorney-in-fact as much or as little decision-making power as you'd like. In every case, however, you should only enter a power-of-attorney arrangement with somebody you trust. The nature of the power you should grant depends heavily on the context, and what your wishes are.

For instance, if you have very particular desires for your end-of-life care, but are worried that you won't be able to express your wishes when the time comes, you can grant someone power of attorney in advance, so they'll be able to ensure that your wishes are carried out, if necessary. You should draft an agreement giving the attorney-in-fact power of attorney only in the event that you actually become incapacitated. Presumably, if you are able to make and express your own medical decisions, you'll want to do it yourself.

In Pottstown, Pennsylvania, 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 Pottstown, Pennsylvania

There are 3 power-of-attorney schemes that can be set up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. 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 lot like durable power of attorney, but it does not usually take effect immediately. Rather, the power vests on the occurrence of certain condition(s) laid out by the principal. The principal could make the condition anything he or she wants, allowing power of attorney to vest only if, say, a person flies to Saturn. Of course, these arrangements are usually not so outlandish. Usually the event that must take place is the principal becoming incapacitated. This allows the principal to make his or her own decisions while they're able, but also ensures that someone they trust will be able to carry out their wishes in the event that they become too sick or weak to express them.

Can a Pottstown, Pennsylvania Lawyer Help?

Setting up a power of attorney arrangement in Pottstown, Pennsylvania can be easy, but it can also be very perplexing. It just varies 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.

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Life in Pottstown

Pottstown is a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania borough that is located just 40 miles from Philadelphia and 20 miles from Reading. The area was planned in 1752 and named for the founder, John Potts. Originally dubbed Pottsgrove, the boundaries of Pottstown were extended and it was renamed. Today, Pottstown is the epicenter of one of the most productive farming and dairy regions in the State of Pennsylvania. Pottstown was once interested in iron and steel mills, machine shops, and other manufacturing plants of textiles and goods such as bricks, hosiery, silks, shirts, nails, and furnaces. The borough rests on a total of 4.9 square miles but plays host to 21,900 residents. Pottstown is governed in a city manager form with a mayor and seven-member borough council. The residents are reasonably diverse both ethnically and economically. Most households utilize the transportation and education systems offered by Pottstown, Montgomery County, and Pennsylvania.

Pottstown Area Rapid Transit Inc. offers low cost public transportation throughout Pottstown and surrounding communities. Pottstown also offers two small airports and a passenger rail service called SEPTA. There's lots of options when it comes to schools in Pottstown. Pottstown residents, depending on where they live, are sent to the Pottstown School District, Pottsgrove School District, and Owen J. Roberts School District. There are also nine private institutions, both grammar school and high school, serving the area too. The Montgomery County Community college is the only institution of higher learning. A number of lawyers also live in Pottstown Borough. Pottstown lawyers can help you navigate any legal questions you may have and are well acquainted with the local court systems and procedures.

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