Completing a Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney (POA) is one type of advance directive that allows you to authorize another person to act on your behalf. POA's are not just for people who are sick or old. If something happened to you and you ended up in the hospital, how would your bills get paid, or your other personal business taken care of? This series goes over the Power of Attorney form, including the options allowed and walks through filling out each section
Filling out the Form: Section 13 - Signature Page
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Power of Attorney Series
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Power of Attorney Series
Section 13 -- Signatures
Section 13 of the Power of Attorney form contains the signature page. The form we have provided does not contain fillable blanks for any signatures required in this section. Print the form, but no signatures should go on the document until you are in front of a notary.
If you are able to sign the document, you need only complete the top section of the page:
If you are able to sign for yourself, you do not need a witness. The optional signature section is used when you are competent but cannot sign your name and so have directed someone else to do that on your behalf. The person signing for you cannot be the person you’ve named as your agent – and both you and the person signing for you need to be present in front of the notary when the form is signed.
Last, if you do not understand English very well, it is important that you have the Power of Attorney form translated so that you are absolutely certain you understand what powers you are delegating and to whom. It is also important to have the person who translates for you complete the translation clause at the bottom of the signature page. Without this, a third party who is aware of your limited English may question whether you were aware of what you were signing and whether they should honor the POA.