East Islip Power of Attorney Lawyer

Unfortunately, there are times when a person can no longer make decisions for themselves due to a tragic accident, a serious medical condition, or a terminal illness. In this situation, setting up a power of attorney with the help of our skilled East Islip power of attorney lawyer is an important estate planning tool that everyone should consider.

A power of attorney provides people not only peace of mind but control after unpredictable events. At Donato Law, we can help you craft a power of attorney document that is perfectly suited to your needs. Contact our law office now and schedule a free consultation with our qualified New York City estate planning attorneys to help you plan for the future.

Why Do I Need a Power of Attorney Lawyer in New York City?

If you have a strong preference concerning 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 or a loved one the legal authority to make such decisions for you by setting up a power of attorney. A comprehensive power of attorney ensures someone you trust will be in charge of important decisions and tasks on your behalf.

At Donato Law, our credible East Islip power of attorney lawyers have proven track records backed by years of experience. Our estate planning law firm can:

• Help you draft wills, establish irrevocable or revocable trusts, set up powers of attorney and health care proxy, and decide how you want your assets to be distributed, who will manage these for you, and who your primary beneficiaries or heirs should be.
• Represent beneficiaries, administrators, executors, trustees, and other individuals and entities in estate and probate matters.
• Understand how important estate planning is to any family and can help identify legal solutions that will work for your unique situation and avoid contentious litigation.
• Educate and work with our clients on their goals and pride ourselves in delivering quality legal service. 

Whether you have legal concerns in family law, divorce, real estate law, estate administration, asset protection, or estate planning in East Islip, Suffolk County, and more areas in New York State, contact our law office now and schedule an initial consultation with our top-ranking New York estate planning attorneys.

What is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that gives one person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the authority to act on behalf of another (known as the principal). The POA allows you to choose which particular powers you give to your agent and which you do not. In the event you become sick and cannot handle your financial affairs, your agent can handle them for you.

If used properly, a power of attorney can help you tend to more matters of great importance. Working with our trusted East Islip power of attorney lawyer is highly recommended if you want to sign a POA to ensure that the documentation is correct and save you from potential legal issues.

What are the Different Types of Power of Attorney?

Powers of attorney can vary in terms of what they cover and when they take effect. They differ not only on the subject matter they address but also on the conditions in which the power becomes executable. Our competent power of attorney lawyer in East Islip, NY can help you choose the appropriate document for your situation.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney allows an individual to retain the status as an agent even if the principal does become incapacitated. This instrument remains effective even if the principal can no longer make decisions. With a valid durable power of attorney, the person you name will be legally permitted to take care of important matters for you if you are unable to do so yourself. There are two types of durable power of attorney that you may need depending on your situation – one that addresses health care issues and another to take care of your finances.

Durable POA for Health Care

A health care or medical POA allows an agent to manage your medical care. It is a type of health care directive that sets out your wishes for health care if you are ever too ill or injured to speak for yourself. Your healthcare agent will work with doctors and other healthcare providers to make sure you get the kind of medical care you wish to receive. The medical decisions could be about treatment options, medication, surgery, end-of-life care, and more.

Durable POA for Finances

A financial POA gives your agent the authority to handle financial matters for you after you can no longer attend to these tasks. Actions may include filing taxes, paying bills, making bank deposits, collecting insurance benefits, and giving gifts to charity.

Non-Durable Power of Attorney

The non-durable power of attorney is used only for a set time frame and usually for a particular transaction in which you grant your agent authority to act on your behalf. This type of POA is limited in scope. Should the principal become incapacitated during or after the transaction is completed, the non-durable power of attorney becomes ineffective.

Special or Limited Power of Attorney

A special or limited power of attorney allows a person to take specific actions of their choosing. It is used on a one-time basis for financial or banking transactions, or for the sale of a particular property. The agent has no other authority to act on behalf of the principal other than what is assigned to them in the limited power of attorney.

Springing Power of Attorney

A springing power of attorney only gives your agent the power to act when a specified condition is met. It doesn’t “spring” into effect until a triggering event. It becomes effective at a future time and only when a specific event occurs, such as a medical or physical disability.

How Do I Create a POA?

There are specific state requirements that you must meet when setting up a POA. Therefore, it is crucial to seek legal advice from our knowledgeable East Islip power of attorney lawyer to ensure that your estate planning document is valid and complies with state laws.

Name an Agent and Decide How Much Authority to Give

When you create a power of attorney, you’ll name an agent. Then, you need to specify the powers that you want to give to your agent. 

For a healthcare POA, these powers might include:

• Withdrawing long-term care and life-prolonging procedures when you are close to death
• Authorizing the disposition of your remains
• Authorizing organ, tissue, or body donation

For a financial POA, these powers might include:

Managing your retirement account

• Filing and paying personal or estate tax
• Handling transactions with banks and other financial institutions
• Collecting benefits from Social Security, Medicare, or other government programs
• Selling, buying, or leasing real estate for you

Obtain Signatures, Notarization, and Witnessing

To finalize your POA, you will need to sign the document and witness it according to the laws in your state. Depending on where you live, you may need to sign it in the presence of the following:

• a notary public
• two witnesses
• in front of both a notary public and two witnesses

When you’re done creating the POA, give your agent a copy of the document, and store the original in a safe place where your loved ones can access it.

Call Our Experienced East Islip Power of Attorney Lawyer Now!

A power of attorney is a very powerful tool for handling your affairs. It is considered one of the most essential elements of an estate plan. When executed properly, it can save your family from going to court to obtain permission to manage your finances or health care when you are no longer able to.

Issues related to incapacity are very complicated. Therefore, you must make well-considered choices in advance. Our seasoned East Islip power of attorney lawyer at Donato Law can help you know what a POA is along with the pros and cons of signing it over to someone. 

Our estate planning law firm can help you ensure that important decisions are in the hands of someone you trust completely. Contact us now and schedule an initial consultation with our New York lawyers to discuss your estate planning needs.