Definition
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal agreement that grants an agent the authority to act in the place of a principal in matters of finances and property (American Law Institute 2006). Under a POA instrument, a principal authorizes an agent to perform a particular set of duties for the principal’s benefit. A POA agent (historically referred to as an “attorney-in-fact”) must act according to the terms and specifications set forth in the POA record (Garner 2019a).
A POA should be distinguished from a “Healthcare Power of Attorney,” which is typically a separate and distinct legal instrument that grants an agent the specific authority to make decisions about the principal’s healthcare and medical treatment (Nicolaidis et al. 2016).
Principles of a Power of Attorney
A POA can be a useful special needs planning tool for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers (Sharpe and Baker 2007). Establishing a POA can be beneficial in a variety of contexts,...
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References and Reading
3 Am. Jur. 2d § 20 Powers of attorney: In general (2020).
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Nicolaidis, C., et al. (2016). The development and evaluation of an online healthcare toolkit for autistic adults and their primary care providers. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(10), 1180–1189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3763-6.
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Requirements for filing power of attorney, 26 C.F.R. § 601.504 (2020).
Sharpe, D. L., & Baker, D. L. (2007). Financial issues associated with having a child with autism. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(2), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-007-9059-6.
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U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2015). Managing someone else’s money: Help for agents under a power of attorney. Retrieved from https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201310_cfpb_lay_fiduciary_guides_agents.pdf
U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2016). What is a Power of Attorney (POA). Retrieved from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-power-of-attorney-poa-en-1149/
U.S. General Accounting Office. (2004). Guardianships: collaboration needed to protect incapacitated elderly people. GAO-04-655. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-04-655
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Uniform Law Commission. (2006). Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Retrieved from https://www.uniformlaws.org/committees/community-home?CommunityKey=b1975254-8370-4a7c-947f-e5af0d6cb07c
Zaubler v. Picone, 100 A.D.2d 620, 473 N.Y.S.2d 580 (N.Y. App. Div. 1984).
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Kelly, A.M., Marsack-Topolewski, C.N. (2020). Power of Attorney (Financial and Property Management). In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102521-1
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