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DURABLE POWERS OF ATTORNEY (DPA)

WHAT IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY?

This is also known by other names such as a Durable Power of Attorney for Management of Property and Personal Affairs. It is the companion document to the Protective Medical Decisions Document. You need both of these documents to protect you and make sure your wishes are carried out when you are incapacitated.

• A DPA lets you authorize, in advance, someone to execute financial documents if you can’t.

• It is usually only valid if you are incapacitated, but can be written to be effective immediately if you wish.

• The powers given to your Agent (sometimes called your “Attorney in Fact”), are usually very broad but can be narrow--you specify this in the DPA.

A competent California Estate Planning attorney can tailor the DPA to meet your needs. Every estate planning package should contain a California Durable Power of Attorney.