What Are the Duties for Financial Powers of Attorney?

I just got appointed agent under a financial power of attorney. What do I need to do next?

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Has a loved one named you their financial power of attorney? Are you ready to take on all the responsibilities that entails? Hopefully, you won’t be called into action anytime soon, but with the coronavirus pandemic continuing, it’s something to think about.

A financial power of attorney is a document allowing someone (the “attorney-in-fact” or “agent”) to act on the principal’s behalf. It normally allows the attorney-in-fact to pay the principal’s bills, access his accounts, pay his taxes, buy and sell investments or even real estate. Essentially, the attorney-in-fact steps into the shoes of the principal and is able to act for the principal in all matters as described in the document.

These responsibilities may sound daunting, and it’s only natural to feel a little overwhelmed at first — much like when we had our first child and the hospital staff left us alone with the baby for the first time: What do we do now?!

Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

Attorney at Law, Law Office of Jeffrey Gaffney

Jeffrey Gaffney is a 25-year attorney and retired Navy captain. A graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, he began his practice helping aggrieved investors recover from unscrupulous stockbrokers. He is an arbitrator for the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and FINRA. Gaffney also serves as a legal fellow with FreeWill, a digital estate planning platform. After years of securities work, he changed his emphasis to trusts and estates as a way to further protect people and their futures.