A durable power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone you choose the power to act in your place if you become incapacitated and unable to handle matters on your own. With a valid and trustworthy power of attorney, the person you name will be legally permitted to take care of important matters for you—including paying your bills, managing your investments, or directing your medical care—in cases where you are unable to do so yourself.

A durable power of attorney is treated as a general power of attorney unless specific instructions are provided. If specific instructions are provided, it will be treated as a specific power of attorney. If you do not want the durable power of attorney to act as your general power of attorney, you will need more than one document to handle all of the affairs and issues that matter to you. Make sure you develop one document to address healthcare issues and another to care of your financial issues.

Taking the time to prepare these documents is a good idea and does not take much effort. If you fail to make durable powers of attorney and something happens to you, the people you love may have to go to court to obtain the authority to handle your affairs.

A durable power of attorney does not generally expire unless a time limitation is specifically set in the original document. You may not change the durable power of attorney after you have become disabled. Look online for sample durable powers of attorney for health care for your state. Many state bar associations have them for free, but some states require the forms be witnessed and notarized in order to be legally binding. You can also find specific power of attorney and general power of attorney forms at www.LegalAgreements.com