Powers of Attorney

If you become incapacitated without one in place, your family may need a court order just to pay your bills or make a medical decision on your behalf.

A power of attorney is one of the most important documents in any estate plan, and one of the most overlooked. It does not take effect when you die. It takes effect when you are alive but unable to act for yourself. That is exactly when your family needs it most, and exactly when it is too late to create one.

Why It Matters

The situations no one plans for

A power of attorney is not a document for old age. It is a document for any time, a sudden illness, a surgery, an accident. These are the situations that make families realize they needed one.

"My husband had a stroke at 58. He was in the ICU and we could not access our joint accounts because they were in his name. We had no idea this could happen."

Financial POA, not in place

"My mother had dementia and never signed a healthcare directive. We spent months in court getting guardianship just so we could make decisions about her care."

Healthcare POA, not in place

"I was deployed overseas for eight months. My wife could not refinance our house or handle a legal matter because she had no authority to act on my behalf."

Durable POA, not in place

The Documents

Two powers of attorney every adult should have

Document One

Financial Power of Attorney

Authorizes someone you trust to manage your financial affairs if you cannot. This includes paying bills, managing investments, filing taxes, handling real estate, and running a business.

Pays bills and manages bank accounts
Handles real estate transactions
Files tax returns on your behalf
Manages investments and retirement accounts
Operates a business if you own one
Can be durable (survives incapacity) or springing (activates on incapacity)

Document Two

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your wishes. Often paired with a living will or advance directive that spells out your specific preferences.

Authorizes medical treatment decisions
Covers surgery, hospitalization, and long-term care
Applies when you are unconscious or incapacitated
Can be paired with a living will for specific instructions
Prevents family conflict over medical choices
Works alongside HIPAA authorization for records access

"Most people assume their spouse can automatically handle everything if something happens. In Missouri, that is not always true, and finding out the hard way is expensive and painful." , Tom Wolff, Heirloom Estate Planning & Elder Law

How We Help

What working with us looks like

Understanding your situation

We start by talking through your family structure, your assets, and what you are worried about. Who do you trust to make decisions? Are there family dynamics that need to be accounted for? The answers shape which documents you need and how they should be drafted.

Drafting documents that actually work

A generic POA downloaded from the internet may be technically valid but practically useless, banks and healthcare providers often reject documents that are not specific enough. We draft POAs that are accepted by financial institutions and healthcare systems in Missouri.

Choosing the right agent

Naming the right person matters as much as the document itself. We help you think through who should serve as your agent, and whether naming a backup agent or co-agents makes sense for your situation.

Coordinating with your broader plan

A POA does not exist in isolation. We make sure it works alongside your will, trust, and any beneficiary designations, so there are no gaps or conflicts when your family needs to act.

Common Questions

What clients ask us

Not necessarily. In Missouri, a spouse does not automatically have legal authority to manage your separate accounts, sign contracts, or make certain medical decisions on your behalf. Without a POA, they may need to go to court to get that authority, a process that takes time and money, and is often avoidable.

A durable POA takes effect immediately and remains in effect if you become incapacitated. A springing POA only activates upon incapacity, which requires a formal determination, often a physician's certification. Durable POAs are generally more practical because they avoid delays when action is needed quickly.

Yes. As long as you are mentally competent, you can revoke a POA at any time by signing a written revocation and notifying your agent and any institutions that have a copy. We can help you do this properly so there is no ambiguity about which document is current.

Your family would likely need to petition a court for guardianship or conservatorship, a formal legal process that can take months, cost thousands of dollars, and require ongoing court oversight. A POA avoids this entirely by giving your chosen agent authority from the start.

Yes. A trust only controls assets that have been transferred into it. A POA covers everything else, assets outside the trust, healthcare decisions, tax filings, and other matters that a trustee cannot handle. They work together, not as substitutes for each other.

Get Started

Let's put the right documents in place

A power of attorney takes a few hours to put in place and can prevent months of court proceedings. We will make sure yours is drafted correctly and actually works when your family needs it.

Schedule a Planning Session → (816) 705-3288

Want to understand the details first? Read our complete Powers of Attorney guide →