Power of Attorney

Facilitating Significant Life Matters

When acting as the Power of Attorney, Puget Sound Guardians holds the responsibility for managing some or all financial matters for the client, and ensuring that the individual's preferences for medical treatment are respected in the event of incapacity.

Some helpful tips on understanding Power of Attorney:

Powers of Attorney are a tool by which a person who is competent delegates another to manage some or all financial matters, and to ensure that the individual's preferences for medical treatment are respected in the event of incapacity.

A Power of Attorney is a written document by which a person, the Principal, delegates another, the Attorney-in-Fact, to manage the Principle's finances.

The powers delegated to the Attorney-in-Fact are completely within the control of the Principal. The Principal may elect to make the powers "durable," meaning the Attorney-in-Fact's authority continues if the Principal becomes incompetent.

A Power of Attorney can be cancelled at any time. When and if an individual wishes to revoke the Power of Attorney, the revocation must be recorded to protect both individuals involved.

An individual must be competent in order to sign a Power of Attorney. This is an advance planning device that may be used to elude guardianship.

Medical Powers of Attorney can include a grant of authority over personal issues, including the ability to make substitute health care decisions. This is a valuable tool for ensuring that the preferences the Principal has stated in the Living Will/Health Care Directive are followed.