Wisconsin Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a document that grants power to another person. In a Wisconsin power of attorney that person is called the agent. Your agent can be your spouse, a friend or a trusted family member.
There are many different types of powers of attorney. A nondurable power of attorney is automatically void if you ever become mentally incapacitated. Most of the powers of attorney used for our daily needs are nondurable. They are meant to grant powers for specific functions and then are no longer needed.
A nondurable general power of attorney grants a wide range of powers to your agent. This is good for leaving with a family member if you are going to be out of the country on a trip. Any emergency could be handled with this type of authority. Your agent could also open your mail, pay your bills, make bank deposits and manage investment accounts.
Special powers of attorney are used a lot where you need to be in two places at once. A car can be sold or a real estate deal closed without you being there. A power of attorney for children would grant your agent the power to enroll your kids in school or authorize medical attention in an emergency.
The other type of powers of attorney are the durable documents. These are the ones your Wisconsin estate planning attorney talks about the most. They remain in effect if you are ever declared mentally incompetent. Every estate plan should have a durable medical power of attorney and a durable financial power of attorney. These two documents would take care of all your needs, if they were ever needed.
It is possible to make these durable powers of attorney not go into effect until they were needed, if ever. A springing durable power of attorney does not become effective unless a doctor declares you mentally unfit to make decisions for yourself.
The state of Wyoming will void a power of attorney if the attorney-in-fact cannot be located. You are allowed to name an alternative to prevent this from happening. It is a good idea to meet with your attorneys-in-fact and discuss the powers you are granting them and how you want them to be used.
Wisconsin power of attorney forms are available at Legal Zoom. Most of these legal forms are easy enough to fill out, an attorney may not be needed.
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