When you hear “power of attorney,” you probably picture a lawyer pounding a desk, dramatic music swelling in the background.
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Reality check: it’s usually more like,
“Uh…where’s that form? Is it even valid? And why is the bank staring at me like I just asked to rob the place?”

Here’s the deal. A POA isn’t just a dusty piece of paper—it’s your ticket to step in and actually do something when your parents can’t. Pay bills. Handle taxes. Deal with investments. Write checks to the memory care facility without begging a judge for permission.

But here’s where families get tripped up:

• The POA is so outdated it might as well be on floppy disk.
• The language is too vague (translation: the bank won’t honor it).
• The wrong type was used (durable, springing—yes, it matters).
• No backup agent was named. (Because life never throws curveballs, right?)

And the kicker: if your parent already lost capacity, you can’t just “get one signed real quick.” That ship has sailed. At that point, you’re filing for guardianship, which is slow, expensive, and about as fun as dental surgery.

Bottom line: A solid, up-to-date POA hands you the keys to the castle before an emergency hits. And getting it right? Way easier than fixing it later!
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Not sure if your POA is up to snuff? Book a free 20-minute life audit fitting call and we can plan next steps!
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Chad Holmes, CFP®, CPA, CPWA®

Founder | Financial Planner | Author

​www.formulawealth.com​

(901) 262-1281 Cell

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​P.S. You don’t need to wait for a crisis to find out if your paperwork works. A quick review now saves a world of headache later.

​Check Out The Inheritance Playbook​

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