What is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a document by which you appoint a person to act as your agent. An agent is one who has authorization to act for another person. The person who appoints the agent is the principal; the agent is also called the attorney-in-fact. If you have appointed an agent by a power of attorney, acts of the agent within the authority spelled out in the power of attorney are legally binding on you, just as though you performed the acts yourself. The power of attorney can authorize the attorney-in-act to perform a single act or a multitude of acts repeatedly.

Who May Be Appointed Under a Power of Attorney?

The agent appointed by power of attorney may be any adult, and is often a close relative, lawyer or other trusted individual. The person appointed does not have to be a resident of the state of Missouri. However, under Missouri law, the following persons may not serve as attorney-in-fact:

1. No one connected with a facility licensed by the Missouri Department of Mental Health or Missouri Department of Social Services in which the principal resides, unless such person is closely related to the principal.
2. No full time judge and no clerk of court, unless closely related.
3. No one under 18, no person judicially determined to be incapacitated or disabled and no habitual drunkard.
4. For a health care provider, no one who is the attending physician of the principal and no one who is connected with the health care facility in which the principal is a patient, unless such a person is closely related to the principal.

What is a "Durable" Power of Attorney?

Many people are unaware that an ordinary power of attorney is revoked, and the agent's power to act for the principal automatically stops, if the principal becomes incapacitated.

Under Missouri law, and the law of many other states, a power of attorney with proper wording may be made "durable." This means that the power of the agent to act on the principal's behalf continues despite the principal's incapacity, whether or not a court decrees the principal to be incapacitated.

Through a durable power of attorney, an agent may continue to act on your behalf even after you have had a stroke or other incapacitating illness or accident. If the power of attorney so provides, the agent can use your funds to pay your bills, can contract for nursing home services for your benefit and can make basic health care decisions for you.

An aging parent may wish to give a durable power of attorney to a responsible adult child so that the child can act on the parent's behalf and carry on routine matters in the event the parent is disabled or incapacitated. In many instances, this arrangement is far better than making the child the joint owner of the parent's bank accounts and other property and assets.

To create a durable power of attorney in Missouri, the title to the document must include the word "durable" and the document must state: "This is a durable power of attorney and the authority of my attorney-in-fact shall not terminate if I become disabled or incapacitated." In many other states, the document must state in substance that "this power of attorney shall not be affected by subsequent disability or incapacity."

It is possible to create a durable power of attorney so that it will only go into effect when the principal is incapacitated or when some other stipulated event or condition occurs. This is ordinarily called a springing durable power of attorney.

Revocation of Durable Power of Attorney

The death of the principal revokes even a durable power of attorney, except for a third person relying on the power of attorney who does not know of the death. Also, a durable power of attorney may be revoked by the principal at any time, either orally or in writing. It is recommended that, when possible, the revocation be written.

Powers Granted by General Powers of Attorney

Under Missouri law before August, 1989, a valid power of attorney had to spell out in detail all of the authorizations granted to the agent. Under a new Missouri law adopted in August, 1989, it is possible to have a "general" power of attorney which authorizes the agent to act for the principal on every kind of subject or matter which may legally be handled through an agent, with certain specific exceptions mentioned below. However, it is still recommended that the power of attorney include as much detail as possible.

Powers Which Must Be Specifically Listed

In Missouri, certain powers must be specifically stated in the power of attorney in order for the attorney-in-fact to be authorized to perform such acts.

Those powers are:

1. To execute, amend or revoke any trust agreement;
2. To fund with the principal's assets any trust not created by the principal;
3. To make or revoke a gift or devise of property to or for the benefit of the principal.
4. To disclaim a gift or devise or property to or for the benefit of the principal;
5. To create or change survivorship interests in the principal's property or in property in which the principal may have interest;
6. To designate or change the designation of beneficiaries to receive any property, benefit or contract right on the principal's death;
7. To give consent to an autopsy or postmortem examination;
8. To make a gift of the principal's body parts under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act;
9. To nominate a guardian or conservator for the principal;
10. To give consent to or prohibit any type of health care, medical care, treatment or procedure; or
11. To direct the withholding or withdrawal of artificially supplied nutrition or hydration.

Powers Which May Not Be Granted By a Power of Attorney

No power of attorney governed by the Missouri law may grant power to an agent to carry out any of the following actions for the principal:

1. To make, publish, declare, amend or revoke a will for the principal;
2. To make, execute, modify or revoke a living will declaration for the principal;
3. To require the principal, against his or her will, to take any action or to refrain from taking any action; or
4. To carry out any actions specifically forbidden by the principal while not under any disability or incapacity.

Must I Sign a Power, and if I Do, Will it Be Followed?

No person can be forced to sign a power of attorney, especially one for health care decisions, which cannot be required for admission to a hospital. Once created, your directions must be followed. If a physician or other health care provider declines to follow your instructions due to religious beliefs or moral convictions, such health care provider must transfer the care of the patient to another physician or facility who will honor the patient's instructions. For this reason, it is always advisable to discuss these issues with your physician in advance of any hospitalization or extensive treatment.

Caution in Preparing and Granting Powers of Attorney

An effective durable power of attorney, and especially a springing durable power of attorney, needs to be very carefully worded and you should seek the assistance of a Missouri lawyer who practices in this area. Furthermore, you should use great care in the selection of your attorney-in-fact. Remember, you are trusting not only your property, but perhaps your life, to the person you appoint.