A General Power of Attorney is a document drafted to authorize one person to act for another person. Frequently this type of power of attorney is used when one is facing a risk of being unable to complete many different transactions. One person can sign a general power of attorney to permit another person to complete many different types of the transactions. The types of transactions that people frequently use a power of attorney for include:
Unlike the Limited Power of Attorney, a General Power of Attorney authorizes a person to do all of the items listed above. A General Power of Attorney is frequently referred to as a Financial Power of Attorney.
A Limited Power of Attorney is used when the one would like to give another authority to complete a transaction. One person can sign a general power of attorney to permit another person to complete the transaction. People frequently use the Limited Power of Attorney when they desire to buy or sell a particular item of personal or real property.
Unlike the General Power of Attorney, this document is usually limited to a particular transaction from the above list. .This type of Powere of attorney is revoked uup the deatoaf
A Durable Power of Attorney is chosen by those who do not wish to have their Power of Attorny revoked in the event that the person giving authourity becomes disabled. Once this document has been signed, the person is authorized even if the person giving the authority becomes disabled.
This type of Power of Attorney is very similar to a General Power of Attorney. It is used when one wants to give another authority over their financial matters, but not other matters such as health. Frequently a Financial Power of Attorney authorizes another to:
Health Care Power of Attorney (Patient Advocate)
This type of Power of Attorney allows one to designate the person who, during one’s disability, is authorized to make decisions about the disabled person’s medical treatment. In Michigan, the medical community often refers to one authorized to make health care decisions for another a Patient Advocate. A Patient Advocate may decide issues related to the care, custody and medical treatment when the patient is unable to participate in treatment decisions.
The Mid Michigan Regional Medical Center offers free copies of a Patient Advocate form it routinely accepts. A person may obtain this free form and fill in the blanks. Others choose to hire an attorney to prepare the Patient Advocate Authorization. The benefit to hiring an attorney is that the client receives access to a knowledgeable resource to discuss the various issues related to the preparation of the Patient Advocate Authorization.
A guardian or the parents of an unmarried minor or legally incapacitated person may give another person custody of that child or person without going to court. This type of power of attorney is limited to a six month period of time. It can be renewed.
This informal temporary type of voluntary change of custody happens all the time without any written agreements. If parents permit your child to reside with another for an extended period of time while the parents or guardian are out of town is a typical example of an informal change of custody. During such temporary intervals it is advisable to sign a medical power of attorney authorizing a responsible person to make medical decisions in the event of an emergency during your absence. A medical power of Attorney can be purchased from an attorney or sometimes may be obtained from a hospital for free.