How Powers of Attorney Work, When to Use Them, and When It’s Too Late to Get One

Your parent’s health is declining. The bills keep piling up. Are you legally allowed to step in? In this first Tuesday Triage episode, Jill explains how powers of attorney really work, who can use them, and what you can do now to prepare for your parent’s cognitive decline before it’s too late.

What We Discussed

• What a power of attorney is and when to use it
• Who can grant a power of attorney and when mental capacity matters
• Immediate vs. springing powers of attorney
• Why successor agents can’t act until the primary agent can’t
• Practical steps to prepare for your parent’s cognitive decline, including:
• The emotional challenge of confronting a parent’s decline, and why being proactive is an act of courage and love

Resources & Links

• Free 15-Minute Consultation: Schedule here.
• Important Information Sheets:
• Personal information sheet (SSN, passwords, etc.)
• Home information sheet (wifi, access codes, security)
• Medical information sheet (insurance, medications, providers)
• Pet information sheet
• Personal balance sheet
• Key people information sheet

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.