Alaska Power of Attorney
Alaska power of attorney forms are easy to find and fill out. They are also some of the most neglected documents in your estate plan. Durable power of attorneys for financial and medical needs simply gives a person you have chosen the right to make decisions for you, should you ever be unable to.
Estate planning and will writing are not usually done because you think you are dying. They are done so that you are prepared for the unexpected. The same applies to power of attorneys, as they relate to your estate planning. No one knows when an auto accident might leave you mentally incapacitated for a length of time. Someone would have to make financial and medical decisions for you. You have the opportunity now to decide who that person will be.
While there are many different kinds of power of attorneys, and many different ways to use them, it is the medical and financial ones that need to be in your estate plan documents. If you are already working with an Alaska estate planning attorney, they should be able to help you with the preparation of of these important documents. Legal Zoom is also an excellent source for power attorney forms.
The forms are simple, and usually do not require an attorney, but advice may be needed as to the types and importance of these documents. With your medical power of attorney you may also choose to add an advance health care directive. This would give specific instructions to your agent and other health care providers as to exactly how you want to be taken care of.
General power of attorneys are used for the purpose of assigning your agent with the power to make decisions and sign documents for you. This type of document would allow all matters of everyday life to be carried on in your absence. Special power of attorneys are used to give limited power over specific items. An example would be a vehicle power of attorney, giving the power for someone to sign a vehicle title for you.
When deciding on what type of power of attorney you need, keep in mind, they usually become void if you are mentally incapacitated. That is unless you have included the word "durable". A durable power of attorney is designed to give power to your agent at any time you cannot make decisions for yourself. In most cases any power of attorney can be made durable simply by adding a durable clause. It is recommended, however, that a specific durable power of attorney form be used for this purpose.
In Alaska, the person you name to be your agent is called the "attorney-in-fact". This person is given all of the power detailed in your Alaska power of attorney. In many states a power of attorney document is nullified if your spouse is named your attorney-in-fact and you get divorced. This is not so in Alaska, the document remains in effect until you change it. Many changes need to be made to an estate plan when a divorce occurs, don't neglect your power of attorneys.
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