What would happen if you fell seriously ill or got into a debilitating accident and couldn’t speak for yourself? Who would make sure your mortgage gets paid? Who would help the doctors make decisions on your behalf?
Without a power of attorney lawyer, your family might be forced to head to the Butte County Courthouse to ask a judge for permission just to help you. That’s a slow, public, and expensive process called a conservatorship.
We know the stress of the situation, so we’ve dedicated our practice to helping our neighbors here in Chico, CA, create estate plans that protect your legacy, your assets, and your family. A power of attorney is one extremely important tool within it. It allows you to appoint someone to make either legal, financial, or medical decisions on your behalf if you’re ever unable to. This ensures that the trusted person you appointed will keep things in order in your life while you’re in recovery.
Why You Can’t Afford to Wait, Even if You’re Healthy Now
Most of us assume we have plenty of time to get our things in order later. But a car accident, a rapid illness, or a hefty fall can happen in an instant. Once you lose your ability to make decisions, it’s legally too late to sign a power of attorney. You have to be of sound mind to give someone else that authority.
By not working with a power of attorney lawyer to set up these protections, you’re essentially leaving your future up to the court’s hands, which will decide for you. Without a power of attorney:
Your bank accounts could be frozen: Even if you’re married, your spouse might not have the legal right to access your individual accounts or sell your home to pay for your care.
Medical decisions are left to “the system”: Doctors might have to follow standard protocols rather than your specific wishes because no one has the legal standing to speak for you. This even goes as far as being in a vegetative state (arguably the worst outcome). The state of California (without a legal directive like a power of attorney) will have to legally submit you to feeding tubes, ventilators, and other life-sustaining treatment, even if you would’ve wanted them to “pull the plug” if you were ever to go into that state.
Family drama spikes: When there isn’t a clear person in charge, families can end up in a heated dispute over what they think you would want.
Don’t leave your family guessing. Working with a power of attorney lawyer ensures that the person you trust most is the one calling the shots.
What Does a Power of Attorney Do?
At its core, it’s an estate planning document that allows you (called the Principal) to give someone you handpick and trust (the Agent) the power to act in your place, hence the name.
As your local power of attorney lawyer right here in Chico, we focus on two main areas:
This is about your body and your health. If you’re in a coma or suffering from advanced dementia, this person makes the tough calls. They decide which treatments you receive, which doctors you see, and what your end-of-life care looks like.
We know this is a tough subject, and we totally understand. We’re not trying to instill fear into you; we want you to have the ability to have your wishes be respected, even if you’re unable to speak them in the moment.
How Legal Norcal Makes the Process Easier
We know that thinking about “what ifs” can be heavy. That’s why we’ve designed our process to be as stress-free as possible.
- Gathering Information: We start with a conversation to get to know your concerns, your wishes, and your family dynamics.
- The Custom Plan: Daniel drafts your power of attorney based on your specific needs and gives it to you for review to ensure everything is the way you want it.
- The Security: You sign the documents, we handle the legalities, and you walk out knowing your “just in case” plan is ready to go.
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Answering Commonly Asked Questions About POA
Does a power of attorney mean I lose my independence?
Who should I choose as my agent?
Is a power of attorney expensive?
Can I change my mind later?
Do I need a lawyer if I already have a Will?
Get a lawyer to write up a Power of Attorney for you.
Creating a power of attorney isn’t about worrying for the future; it’s about making sure your family doesn’t have to.
Trust our power of attorney lawyer, Daniel Rodreíguez, and the team at Legal Norcal to stabilize your family’s future and protect your legacy with the same passion and dedication we bring to every case.
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