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Oklahoma City Power Of Attorney Lawyer

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None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Simply put, life is unpredictable. At any moment, illness or injury could strike, leading to an inability to handle our affairs. Planning ahead by creating powers of attorney and authorizing a trusted friend or family member to handle your affairs during periods of incapacity can provide invaluable peace of mind. Creating a power of attorney document can also make things significantly easier for your loved ones should someone need to step in to handle your finances or be your voice for medical decisions.

 

As a trusted Oklahoma City power of attorney lawyer, Goodnight Law provides a variety of tailored estate planning services and documents, including powers of attorney.
 

Power of Attorney Options

Whether you need a financial POA, health POA, or both, it is important to understand your options — and the authority granted by various kinds of POA documents. Your Oklahoma City power of attorney lawyer will work closely with you and can help you understand which type(s) of POA makes the most sense for you based on your specific goals and wishes.

 

  • General POA. A general power of attorney makes sense for many clients but not all. This type of document grants broad authority over your affairs, giving your named agent the power to open or close financial accounts on your behalf, handle real estate transactions, and more.

  • Limited POA. A limited power of attorney allows your agent to handle specific matters or types of transaction on your behalf. As the name implies, your agent’s authority is limited. For example, you could give someone legal authority to handle real estate matters for a certain property.

  • Financial POA. Creating a financial power of attorney can give your designated agent the power to access, obtain information about, and transact business in your bank and investment accounts, insurance policies, handling tax matters, and more. Financial powers of attorney can be tailored to your needs.

  • Medical POA. A medical power of attorney gives a trusted loved one the authority to be your voice for medical decisions, should you become unable to make your own health care choices known. You can also use this legal document to document specific health care wishes.

  • Durable POA. A durable power of attorney is one that is effective immediately upon execution, and which continues to be in effect during periods when you are incapacitated. Most powers of attorney are durable, although there can be circumstances where this option does not meet a client’s needs.

 

Recent Law Changes in Oklahoma

 

Oklahoma law related to using a power of attorney for health decisions has changed more than once in recent years. Under current law, a valid Oklahoma power of attorney for medical decisions can be used to grant a trusted family member or friend authority to make decisions that affect your health care. This authority includes consenting to or refusing care and choosing (or firing) health care providers.

 

While your agent may sign “do not resuscitate” orders, they may not make decisions to withhold life-sustaining medical care. Any decisions your agent does make must be made with your welfare in mind. If you have previously expressed your wishes for care, your agent must honor those wishes. 

 

Why You Need a Power of Attorney

 

Of course, nobody wants to become incapacitated. However, the reality is that incapacity can happen to anyone. Creating a valid power of attorney as part of the estate planning process is a smart way to plan for unforeseen contingencies. Proactive, flexible planning will allow you to be thoughtful about the powers you are granting, and about who has authority to step in on your behalf, should the need for someone to do that arise. Putting a POA in place can create peace of mind for you. It can also reduce stress for your loved ones. Should incapacity strike, your named agent can step in to handle things for you without needing to petition the court for approval — a process which can be time-consuming and costly.

Why Choose Us

At Goodnight Law, we are passionate about helping Oklahoma residents with estate planning. Your experienced Oklahoma City power of attorney lawyer will work closely with you to understand your estate planning goals and wishes, and to ensure your plan addresses both planning for your estate after your death, as well as incapacity planning using powers of attorney.

 

We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, and we take a hands-on approach to planning. In fact, we can even meet with you at your home to inventory your assets to ensure your plan includes all your valuables.

 

To learn more and to schedule your free consultation, contact Goodnight Law today!

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