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When your loved one signs for you to be Power of Attorney, be sure all names on the document match the legal names on your IDs (driver's license, etc.) We are selling mom's house this week, and I was told since I didn't sign my full name on the POA they might not go through with the sale. It has to match your ID/full legal name. Since mom now cannot sign a new POA we are stuck.

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My mom was in a care home when she signed the POA so we had to just have a Notary there and needed to act quickly to get her affairs in order to pay her bills. We didn't use a lawyer as we were told we didn't need one. I spent a month waiting to hear back from the family attorney's office, but they never called or emailed us back. Every bank and government office we have shown the POA to has accepted it. In about eight months of use, this is the first time anyone has questioned it. I was surprised and wanted to share our experience.
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Reply to JustAnon
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AlvaDeer Oct 28, 2024
I am amazed you had such good luck with banks. Generally they will not accept this kind of POA because often the seniors get out of wherever they were and come back saying "who did you just GIVE MY MONEY TO!!!!". They usually require lawyer- driven steel-clawed legal forms. I highly recommend getting a good POA drawn up by an attorney ASAP because at some point it may be needed almost certainly, and if it is too late it is VERY expensive to get guardianship.
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I'm not aware of any POA that requires the signatures of those being designated POA if done at a lawyers office, as only the person designating is the one to sign them along with the lawyer and 2 witnesses from the lawyers office.
I had both my POA's done at a lawyers office over 2 years ago, and designated both my children as my POA's, and they were not with me, nor were they required to sign. Again, only the lawyer and 2 witnesses from his office signed them.
I'm guessing that perhaps you did the POA's that you print off from online and then take it to be notarized and 2 witnesses sign and you were one of the witnesses.
This might be a good lesson for folks to make sure that they spend the little bit of money that it costs to have a lawyer do any POA's needed. so as not to cause any issues.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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I never signed my Moms POA. I was there too. She signed, the lawyer signed as did the witness and notary. But I did not sign. My POA was immediate and was never questioned. I am in NJ.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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With attorney present this should not be a problem. They simply add an AKA. It can be more a problem if home in trust and someone attempting to sell as POA or in a regular non-trust and a Trustee trying to manage it. That does require a lot of legal maneuvering.
I would imagine this also varies by state as everything seems to.
Good luck, for sure!
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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My 91 year old grandfather signed POA to me (I am the only living relative still speaking to him) back in December. I got married in March but his mental state has declined rapidly and he has now been placed in an ALF. Hopefully since I can prove the name change with my marriage license I will be ok.
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