Houston Power of Attorney Lawyers
Protecting Your Best Interests through Estate Planning & Family Law
Having a trusted person to make decisions and act on your behalf in a time of need brings a sense of security and can solve many life problems. That time of need may involve becoming incapacitated, whether through illness, injury, or advanced age or by merely being absent from one’s daily life, such as traveling in another state or country. Whatever the circumstances, the problems of handling your medical, financial, or other life affairs can be arranged through a legal instrument called a Power of Attorney. Various types of Powers of Attorney exist that have their own purposes and uses and are commonly part of a comprehensive estate plan.
At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, we can give you the understanding and legal help you need in creating proper and legally valid Powers of Attorney designed to meet your needs. We are here to ensure that you have the benefit of these legal documents that are commonly used in estate plans and an overlap into family law matters. Our legal team has successfully helped countless individuals and families throughout the greater Houston area in these two legal areas which we exclusively practice. We understand that estate planning may be a difficult and emotional area to confront but, with our education and support, we are confident that you will have peace of mind once your Powers of Attorney and other estate planning documents are finally realized.
Looking to establish a Power of Attorney to handle financial, medical, or other life matters? Contact us at (281) 810-9760 or through our online request form to set up a free consultation.
Types of Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that authorizes a designated person to act on your behalf; you are the “principal” giving this right to the person. The actions or decisions that your designated agent will be allowed to make in your stead will be limited to whatever your Power of Attorney says it to be. These powers may be broad, such as the power to handle all of your financial or life affairs, or limited, such as the power to sign the purchase or sale documents of a home while you are away. The name “power of Attorney” gives your agent power to make these decisions and thus makes him or her your “attorney-in-fact.”
These legal documents may be terminated in various ways, such as when the principal passes away, when it is revoked, when the designated person is no longer able to carry out the duties authorized in the document, or for some other reason. A standard Power of Attorney generally becomes ineffective should you become incapacitated. However, when created as a Durable Power of Attorney, it can remain in effect through incapacity as well. For example, a medical Power of Attorney can give your named person the ability to make medical decisions when you cannot express yourself due to illness or injury.
Various types of Powers of Attorney can include:
- General Power of Attorney that gives the authority to handle almost any type of action or decision from financial matters to daily living affairs.
- A limited Power of Attorney that is designed for your agent to be able to act in only the designated area laid out in the document.
- Durable Power of Attorney in which the powers granted to your agent will remain in effect should you become incapacitated.
- Springing Power of Attorney in which the authority will be given to your agent only when or if you become incapacitated or disabled.
- Medical Power of Attorney that gives your agent the power to act on your behalf in regard to medical treatment.
An example of the usefulness of a Power of Attorney is when you are divorced
and your child goes away to college. With a Power of Attorney to act on
his or her behalf, you can then access information and make decisions
on behalf of your son or daughter. The information you can access could
include records regarding college admission, tuition or financial accounting,
academics, and more.
Looking for a Trusted Legal Source?
At the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, we look forward to having the opportunity to help you with Powers of Attorney and other estate planning or family law matters. Our firm is dedicated to providing compassionate and diligent legal support for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your legal matter has been settled thoroughly and with professionalism.
Reach out to a Houston attorney for Powers of Attorney at (281) 810-9760 today.
