Los Angeles Power of Attorney Lawyer

If an illness, accident, or unexpected absence leaves you unable to handle your finances, your family may discover that they cannot simply step in and manage things for you. Our power of attorney lawyer in Los Angeles can help you decide who should have authority, what they should be able to do, and when that authority should begin. 

Stonewood Law Group P.C is located right where the 101 meets the 405, and we serve clients across the Greater Los Angeles Area. Multi-lingual, we communicate easily in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Armenian.

Call (213) 457-0497 today to schedule a free consultation. We’ve been honored by the good reviews so many previous clients have given us, and hope to serve you next.

Choosing the Right Authority Before You Need It

Power of attorney (POA) is ultimately about trust and control. The right document gives the right person enough authority to handle necessary matters without granting powers that do not fit your circumstances.

Depending on your specific case, an agent may need specific authority for transactions involving gifts, trusts, or beneficiary arrangements, and some powers must be expressly granted rather than assumed. 

That’s why generic POA forms, while helpful, can’t account for everything in your life. For families with more complicated assets, the POA should fit into the larger estate plan rather than operate as a standalone form.

Decide When Authority Should Begin

A durable power of attorney can be structured to give an agent authority immediately or to make authority dependent on a future, “springing” event, such as incapacity. Each approach involves a tradeoff between convenience and control.

A springing arrangement can preserve more direct control until a specified event occurs, but the process for establishing that event needs to be workable in practice. A plan that requires someone to obtain documentation before anyone can act may be difficult to use when time matters.

Think About the Institutions Your Agent Will Face

Even a properly prepared POA still has to function in the real world. Banks and other financial institutions may review the document before allowing an agent to access an account or conduct a transaction. Keeping current copies and understanding the institution's procedures can help prevent avoidable confusion.

Put Your Financial Plan in the Right Hands

The most useful power of attorney is not necessarily the broadest one. It is the one that reflects your circumstances and gives the person you trust the authority they need without creating unnecessary complications.