No matter how old or healthy you are, choosing your power of attorney is a significant decision that should never be taken lightly. As such, you should take the time to do your research before deciding who will represent you. However, doing this research can be complex if you don’t know where to start. With that in mind, here is a list of 5 things to know before choosing your power of attorney.

Trust is Essential

Although being a power of attorney means making some financial decisions on your behalf, this is only one portion of their responsibilities. Therefore, it is crucial to choose someone you can trust above all else. While many tend to turn to financial advisors for assistance, this can be detrimental when managing matters unrelated to money.

Proximity is Important

These days, our personal lives are more complex than ever. Unfortunately, this means that those closest to us often don’t live anywhere near us. However, when it comes to choosing your power of attorney, proximity is paramount. Usually, a power of attorney may need to go to an emergency room or other healthcare setting with very little notice. So, if you are considering choosing someone who lives in another city or state, you may want to think again.

Pushovers are a Liability

Given that they will make dire decisions about your life and assets, you will want to choose an assertive power of attorney. However, many of these situations are high-pressure and require the ability to make sound decisions and stand firm on those decisions at a moment’s notice. Therefore, choosing a power of attorney that is a people pleaser is ill-advised.

Medical Knowledge is a Plus

No matter how intelligent someone may be, it is never a good idea to wait until after an emergency has happened to brush up on your medical knowledge. Therefore, you should choose someone with either a medical background or a reasonable understanding of your particular ailments and conditions.

Caring is a Must

Lastly, when choosing your power of attorney, caring is a must. The person you select will need to be someone who can be selfless and capable of putting their own needs on the back burner, at least for a little while. Otherwise, you may be stuck with someone who makes hasty decisions that are not in your best interest.

Choosing a power of attorney can be difficult. Luckily, these tips will make the process simpler. If you need legal assistance, contact our team at Dana Law Group.

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