We provide specialized winterization services to safeguard your pool during the off-season, and when spring arrives, we handle the thorough opening process.
We provide specialized winterization services to safeguard your pool during the off-season, and when spring arrives, we handle the thorough opening process.
While wills and trusts address what happens after death, powers of attorney are crucial legal documents that protect you during life. A power of attorney appoints someone you trust to handle financial, legal, and healthcare decisions if you become unable to make or communicate these decisions yourself. For Wakulla County residents, having properly drafted powers of attorney is an essential part of a complete estate plan.
As your neighbor and local attorney, I help Wakulla families create customized powers of attorney that provide protection and peace of mind. Whether you’re a retiree in St. Marks, a business owner in Crawfordville, or a young family in Sopchoppy, these documents ensure your affairs can be managed according to your wishes even during unexpected circumstances.
Creating your powers of attorney begins with understanding your unique needs and concerns. I’ll help you select appropriate agents who understand your wishes and values, and draft documents with precise language required under Florida law. Your documents are then properly executed with required witnesses and notarization, giving them full legal effect when needed most.
This comprehensive document appoints someone (your “agent”) to handle financial and legal matters if you become incapacitated. Unlike standard powers of attorney, durable powers remain effective even if you lose capacity—when they’re needed most.
Your durable power of attorney can allow your agent to:
This vital document (sometimes called a healthcare power of attorney) appoints someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot communicate your wishes. Your healthcare surrogate should understand your preferences and be willing to advocate for your wishes even in difficult circumstances.
For Wakulla residents, having a clear healthcare surrogate designation is especially important since emergency medical care often involves transport to Tallahassee facilities. This document ensures your medical wishes travel with you.
A living will declares your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures in case of terminal condition, end-stage condition, or persistent vegetative state. This document provides crucial guidance to your healthcare surrogate and medical providers about your preferences for end-of-life care.
Creating these documents relieves your loved ones from making these difficult decisions without your input, providing clarity during emotional times. As your Wakulla attorney, I ensure these documents reflect your specific wishes while meeting all Florida legal requirements.
For Wakulla’s active outdoor community—fishermen, boaters, and hunters—having these documents in place provides protection during high-risk activities. A sudden accident could leave you temporarily or permanently unable to manage affairs without these crucial documents in place.
For retirees living in Wakulla while family members are elsewhere, powers of attorney ensure trusted individuals can step in when needed, regardless of distance. This becomes increasingly important as we age and the likelihood of incapacity increases.
For business owners in our community, powers of attorney can include provisions allowing continued operation of your business during a temporary or permanent incapacity, protecting your livelihood and employees.
As your neighbor and local attorney, I provide powers of attorney that are specifically tailored to your unique situation. From coastal homes to family businesses to retirement planning, I ensure your documents provide comprehensive protection when you need it most.
A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you (the "principal") to appoint someone else (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to act on your behalf in financial, legal, or healthcare matters. It's one of the most important documents in your estate plan because it protects you during life, not just after death.
A regular power of attorney becomes invalid if you become incapacitated—precisely when you need it most. A durable power of attorney contains specific language that allows it to remain effective even if you become incapacitated. In Florida, most powers of attorney are drafted as durable to ensure they work when needed.
A standard durable power of attorney takes effect immediately upon signing, though your agent should only use it when necessary. A "springing" power of attorney takes effect only upon your incapacity, but these are more difficult to use in practice since they require proof of incapacity, often delaying help when it's most needed.
Your agent should be someone who is:
Yes. You can appoint co-agents who act together, or you can appoint different agents for different purposes (e.g., one for financial matters and another for healthcare decisions). However, appointing co-agents for financial matters can create practical difficulties if they must both sign for every transaction.
Florida's Power of Attorney Act has specific requirements that differ from many other states. These include:
Florida law requires certain significant powers to be separately initialed by the principal to be effective. These include the power to:
Powers of attorney validly executed in another state are generally honored in Florida. However, they may not contain Florida's specific statutory language, potentially causing financial institutions to reject them. Updating your documents after moving to Wakulla County is strongly recommended.
A healthcare surrogate designation appoints someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot communicate. A living will specifically addresses end-of-life care, stating your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures if you have a terminal condition, end-stage condition, or are in a persistent vegetative state.
In Florida, your healthcare surrogate can only make decisions if your physician determines you are unable to make or communicate decisions. However, you can include optional language authorizing your surrogate to act immediately while you retain the right to override their decisions.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your medical privacy. A HIPAA authorization allows healthcare providers to share your protected health information with designated individuals. Without this document, even close family members may be unable to receive information about your condition.
Florida law requires banks and other institutions to accept properly executed powers of attorney, though they may request additional documentation or legal opinions. Having a professionally drafted document that complies with current Florida law significantly increases acceptance rates.
You should review your power of attorney every 3-5 years or after major life events (marriage, divorce, death of an agent, move to a new state). Even though a durable power of attorney doesn't technically expire, financial institutions sometimes hesitate to accept documents that are several years old.
Yes, you can revoke your power of attorney at any time as long as you have capacity. The revocation should be in writing, and you should notify your agent and any institutions that may have the document on file. Creating a new power of attorney also revokes previous ones if it contains revocation language.
Without a power of attorney, if you become incapacitated, your loved ones would need to petition the court for guardianship—a costly, time-consuming, and public process. The court would appoint someone to manage your affairs, who might not be the person you would have chosen, and they would be subject to ongoing court supervision.
Power of attorney documents are $100 each when added to any estate plan, or a complete incapacity planning package (including durable power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, living will, and HIPAA authorization) is available for $250. These flat fees include consultation, document preparation, and proper execution with witnesses and notarization.
Most power of attorney documents can be prepared within a week. I offer flexible signing appointments for Wakulla residents, including evening and weekend options when needed.