How to Notarize a Power of Attorney
Life is unpredicatable. People are often worried about who will take important decisions on their behalf if they are not in a state where they can make decisions – admitted in hospital or stuck in a faraway destination. A power of attorney is a legal document that a person creates to give power to another person to act on their behalf in case they are unable to make decisions. The trusted person, then, will be eligible to make financial, estate, healthcare, and other decisions on behalf of the other person.
However, this document is not legally binding unless it is notarized. When the person takes the document to a notary public, the notary will sign and stamp the document to indicate that the document is genuine. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get your legal document notarized. But before that, let us talk about the two common types of power of attorney – or the two common methods through which you can assign the other person to act on your behalf.
Types of Power of Attorney
The two widely common types of power of attorney are: springing power of attorney and durable power of attorney.
Under durable power of attorney, the legal document goes into effect immediately after it is signed or at a date specified on the form. The trusted individual who is named in the document doesn’t have to prove a person’s limitation to act or make decision to act on their behalf.
Under springing power of attorney, the trusted individual gains power after a certain event. A person can assign a person who may act on their behalf after they are incapacitated by an accident or injury.
How to Notarize a Power of Attorney
1. Preparing a Power of Attorney
To ensure that your document doesn’t have any loophole, consult a lawyer for a draft. It is also important to know that every state has a distinct power of attorney form. In this regard, the lawyer will also help you find the correct power of attorney form.
2. Find out the State Laws
Many states require the person to sign the document in the presence of a notary. On the other hand, some states don’t follow such strict regulations. Before finalizing your document, check what your state laws require.
3. Call the Location
Before physically visiting the office, make a call to the notary office to find out if they provide notarization services of a power of attorney. Ask them about the fee they charge. [Almost all notary offices stamp the document against a nominal, affordable fee].
4. Visit the Office
Even if your state doesn’t have strict laws regarding the signature on the document, it is better to keep an unsigned document with you when you visit the office.
5. Finalize the Office
Meet a notary and sign the document in front of them. The officer will then sign and stamp the document to make it legally binding.
Summary
A power of attorney document will have no legal standing if you don’t get it notarized in a timely manner. To ensure that you don’t face any legal problems, visit the notary immediately and get your important document notarized.