Almost everybody would need a durable power of attorney in Alabama at some stage in their lives. Learn what a power of attorney Alabama can do for you, how to get power of attorney in Alabama, and why you may need one.
A power of attorney Alabama is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone or someone to handle your land, finances, or medical affairs if you cannot do so yourself. All Alabama power of attorney, however, is not created equal. Each form delegated various authority levels to your attorney-in-fact, the person who will make decisions on your behalf.
What Is an Alabama Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney Alabama is a legal document that allows you to appoint an agent to handle personal, financial, business, real estate, or other legal matters on your behalf. The principal is the person who signs a power of attorney form in Alabama, and the agent is the person who is authorized to act on your behalf. An "attorney-in-fact" is another term for the agent.
There are three different forms of Alabama power of attorney form.
- General:
The agent will handle all of your financial and real estate matters with a general power of attorney in Alabama. This Alabama power of attorney form restricts an agent's jurisdiction to specific issues. If you're going abroad to see a client, for example, you may give your agent the authority to pay your mortgage and utilities bills while you're away, but no other authority.
- Ordinary:
When you become incapacitated, an ordinary power of attorney in Alabama becomes ineffective. In Alabama, incapacity is described as impairment or unavailability caused by the principal being ill or disabled, absent, detained in jail or prison, or outside the United States.
- Durable power of attorney Alabama
The most popular form of attorney, a durable power of attorney in Alabama, continues to function even if you lose mental capacity. It gives your lawyer the authority to act on your behalf if you're unable, sick or still making decisions about your finances.
What Would I Do With an Alabama Power of Attorney?
An Alabama power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf. When you become unable to make those decisions on your own, this appointment will take effect immediately. You would be unable to make these crucial decisions for yourself if you were mentally incapacitated or left the country for an extended period of time.
Another valuable legal tool is a medical power of attorney, which allows someone else to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot do so. This covers the types of treatment you want or don't want. When you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious, for example, you can specify that you want to stop receiving life-sustaining care.
If you don't have a medical power of attorney in place, an estranged family member, a doctor, or even a judge may be in charge of your medical treatment. The contract does not grant the agent the authority to make medical decisions when you can still do so.
How to Obtain a Power of Attorney form in Alabama?
To complete a power of attorney in Alabama, you have two options: hire an estate planning attorney or find a power of attorney form in Alabama and fill it out yourself.
Follow these steps once you've found your form:
1. Choose a representative.
Your agent must be at least 18 years old and eager, and capable of acting in your best interests. Choose a spouse, live-in partner, business associate, good friend, or another family member familiar with your personal and business affairs. Select an alternative agent if you and your client become incapacitated at the same time if you choose a spouse or domestic partner.
2. Assign responsibilities to your agent.
Your agent's responsibilities are entirely dependent on you. You can limit your agent's authority to business matters by initialing that portion of the Alabama power of attorney form and scratching out the others. Initial all sections to grant general authority, including handling corporate, financial, family maintenance, and other legal affairs.
You have the option of granting or denying any of the powers specified on the form. Some individuals, for example, do not want their agents to have access to their pension plan or bank accounts.
3. Engage the services of a notary public
To be effective, powers of attorney Alabama must be signed and notarized. If you don't know someone who is a notary public, go to your nearest bank branch. Notaries can be on staff at print and mail shops, and they may notarize your document for a fee.
4. Make copies and distribute them.
Your initial power of attorney should be kept in a fireproof file cabinet or a safety deposit box. Make copies to hold in an open file and give another copy to your agent before storing. Notify your loved ones that you have Alabama power of attorney forms in place, and consider giving them copies.
Final Words:
You can download Power of Attorney Alabama documents to appoint someone else to help you and make decisions on your behalf. This authority gives someone you want the right to manage any financial, health-care, tax-filing, or DMV-related operation on your behalf.
If you want someone to make financial decisions for you, make sure that person is trustworthy so they will be able to sell real estate and even make loans on your behalf. Once signed and notarized, the agreement is valid for use and does not become invalid until a new contract is signed, a revocation is authorized, or when the principal dies.