Personal Lessons  /  Financial Power of Attorney

Financial Power of Attorney

The living will covers medical decisions. This covers everything else — your bank accounts, your business, your bills — if you couldn't handle them yourself for a while. Answer the questions below to generate a draft document.

This is not legal advice, and this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. A financial power of attorney is one of the more heavily regulated self-help documents — nearly every state requires notarization, and several (including Florida, New York, and Maryland) also require two witnesses. A few states (including Texas, California, and Florida) require the document to explicitly state that it stays in effect if you become incapacitated, or it won't. Because this document gives someone real legal authority over your money and property, it's worth an attorney's review before you sign — more so than the living will.

1. Your Information

This identifies you as the person granting this authority (the "Principal").

2. Your Agent (Attorney-in-Fact)

The person you're giving authority to act on your behalf. Choose someone you trust completely — this is real legal and financial authority.

Optional — an alternate agent, if your first choice is unavailable.

3. When This Takes Effect

Either way, this power of attorney is durable — it stays in effect if you become incapacitated, rather than automatically ending (that's the entire point of this document).

4. Powers Granted

Check everything you want your agent to be able to handle.

5. Additional Instructions (optional)

Your Draft Document

This draft was generated on this device only — nothing was saved or sent anywhere. Given the authority this document grants, have an attorney licensed in your state review it before you sign — then sign in front of a notary (and witnesses, if your state requires them).