Where Should I Keep My Power of Attorney?

After creating your power of attorney you need to make sure the document is both kept safely and it is given to the people who need it. Your estate planning lawyer can provide you with advice about how to handle and store your important legal documents after creating them.

General Safekeeping: At the very least, both you and your agent should have original copies of whatever power of attorney you create. If you create multiple powers and have multiple agents, each should receive the document that grants them authority. If you name alternate agents, it’s a good idea to give those agents a copy of the power of attorney so they can use it if needed. Otherwise, you should keep the document in a secure location, such as a home safe, safety deposit box or stored at your attorney’s office.

Financial Powers: When you grant financial powers of attorney it’s important to make sure the third-parties with whom your agent interacts will recognize their authority. In general, third-parties must accept powers of attorney that are legally executed, though you may need to be prepared with copies in order to ensure a smooth acceptance of your agent’s authority.

Health Care Powers: Similar to financial powers, a health care power of attorney will need to be used with medical care providers, such as doctors, hospitals or extended care facilities. You may need to provide your healthcare providers with copies of the document so you don’t have to worry about a conflict arising.