What is a Durable Power of Attorney?

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a document used in the state of Washington to provide someone else the legal authority to manage certain tasks on behalf of the person who grants the authority (known as the “principal”). This type of power of attorney can be used for financial, legal, and health care decisions. The principal must be 18 years old or older and have the mental capacity to understand what they are doing when they create the DPOA. The principal must sign the DPOA in front of a notary public or two witnesses who can testify that the principal was of sound mind when they signed the document. The person granted the Durable Power of Attorney (known as the “agent”) must also be 18 years old or older and of sound mind to accept this responsibility. The agent is legally allowed to do whatever tasks are outlined in the DPOA. Depending on the document, this can include making decisions about finances, legal matters, and health care choices, or other important decisions. The DPOA remains effective even if the principal loses their mental capacity and cannot make decisions for themselves. This type of power of attorney can be used to plan for disability and handle important decisions for someone who has become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves.

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What is a Durable Power of Attorney?

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