Questions about Power of Attorney forms

[CindiW]

Jurisdiction

Florida

I'm interested in getting forms for a Power of Attorney, general for financial and other decisions in case of incapacitation. So would a general form be accepted in all states, namely Florida which is where we live?

 

[Tax Counsel]

I'm interested in getting forms for a Power of Attorney, general for financial and other decisions in case of incapacitation. So would a general form be accepted in all states, namely Florida which is where we live?

There is no one power of attorney form that will be universally accepted by all persons in every state of the country. Moreover, the boilerplate forms you find on the internet may or may not be what you really need or want even if accepted. A lot of large institutions like banks, hospitals, etc., prefer that customers use their own forms for powers of attorney and might not accept something else. Some states make this easier by providing statutory forms that the law presumes valid when completed correctly, eliminating the fear of some people that if they honor the POA they'll be successfully sued for doing so because the POA was not valid in that state. Aside from having to use the form that a particular institution insists you use, the most effective POA documents will come from an attorney in your state who is experienced in drafting them.