Your decisions. Your person. Your terms.
Powers of Attorney
If you cannot make decisions for yourself, someone will. A Power of Attorney lets you choose who that person is and exactly what they can do.
Choose Who Speaks for You
Imagine being in a car accident tomorrow. You survive but you are unconscious for three weeks. The mortgage is due. Your investment account needs attention. Decisions about your medical care need to be made. Without a Power of Attorney, no one has automatic authority to step in for you, not your spouse, not your adult children, not your closest friend. The default path is a guardianship case in Superior Court that takes months and costs thousands.
A Power of Attorney is the one document most people do not think about until it is too late. By then, the only option is a court process that costs more and takes longer than anyone expects.
The Documents That Make Up a Complete POA Package
Arizona recognizes several distinct authority documents, each covering a different decision area. Most adults need all of them, signed before they are needed.
- Financial Power of Attorney, naming who manages banking, bills, investments, and real estate
- Medical Power of Attorney, naming who makes healthcare decisions when you cannot speak for yourself
- Mental Health Care Power of Attorney, an Arizona-specific document that covers behavioral and psychiatric care
- HIPAA authorization, so the people you name can actually get information from your doctors
- Durable or springing activation, your choice on whether authority starts immediately or only on incapacity
Why It Matters
Roughly three in ten working adults will experience a disability before retirement. If you are a homeowner, your property cannot be sold or refinanced while you are incapacitated. If you are married, your spouse cannot automatically access your separate accounts or speak with your doctors. A POA fixes all of that with a single signing visit, and it costs a fraction of what a guardianship case costs.
Without these documents on file, your family's only option is a court case. With them on file, the people you trust can step in the same day.
A Power of Attorney is the one document most people do not think about until it is too late. By then, the only option is a court process that costs more and takes longer than anyone expects.
Who Needs a Power of Attorney
If you own assets, run a business, or have people who depend on you, this document is essential.
- Homeowners and Property Owners. If you are incapacitated, no one can sell, refinance, or manage your real estate without a Financial POA. Your property sits frozen until a court intervenes.
- Married Couples. Spouses cannot automatically access each other's financial accounts or make medical decisions without written authorization. A POA solves this.
- Aging Parents. As your health changes, having a POA already in place prevents an expensive and stressful court process later.
- Business Owners. If you are incapacitated, someone needs legal authority to keep your business running, pay employees, and manage contracts.
Your First Step Starts Here
At our live, free estate planning seminars across Phoenix and Tucson, we walk you through how to protect you and your loved ones from probate. We give you a step-by-step plan that's simple and clear. Sign up today for peace of mind tomorrow.
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Common Powers of Attorney Questions
Answers to the questions Arizona families ask most about powers of attorney.
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From the Blog
- What Happens to Your Family Without an Estate Plan in Arizona
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- Trusts vs. Wills in Arizona: Key Differences Compared
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- Successor Trustee & Trust Administration in Arizona: The Complete Guide
Why naming the right person matters as much for your POA as it does for your trust.
Glossary
- Durable Power of Attorney
A POA that takes effect immediately and stays in force if you become incapacitated.
- Springing Power of Attorney
A POA that only activates when a triggering event, usually a physician's certification of incapacity, occurs.
- Financial Power of Attorney
Authority to manage your money, banking, property, and contracts on your behalf.
- Medical Power of Attorney
Authority to make healthcare decisions for you when you cannot make them yourself.
- Mental Health Care Power of Attorney
Arizona-specific authority for mental and behavioral health decisions.
- HIPAA Authorization
A signed release that lets the people you name access your medical records and speak with your doctors.