What can a Durable Power of Attorney do?

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) in Rhode Island is a document that can grant someone else (the agent) the power to make decisions on your behalf about your health and financial matters. It can allow the agent to manage bank accounts, pay bills, sign legal documents, apply for government benefits, and more. The DPOA document will specify the type of authority your agent is allowed to exercise. DPOA may be used to provide flexibility to a person with a disability who does not have the capacity to make decisions or handle their affairs. There are different kinds of DPOA, and each one allows you to choose who you’d like to handle your affairs. This could be a close friend or family member. This person does not have to be an attorney or have any legal experience. DPOA also allows you to determine what decisions the agent is authorized to make. You can choose to let the agent make decisions for you on a wide range of matters or limit the agent’s authority to specific issues. For example, you might designate the agent to manage your finances but not make health care decisions. Finally, DPOA allows you to name someone to serve as an alternate agent in the event that your primary agent is unable or unwilling to act. This can give you peace of mind knowing that you have a backup plan in place.

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What can a Durable Power of Attorney do?

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