Have you been appointed as “Attorney-in-Fact” by a loved one in a financial Power of Attorney? If so, then you know that this job isn’t for the faint of heart. In fact, it carries quite a bit of responsibility with it.
If you’re signing a legal document on behalf of someone else, always remember to indicate that you are acting under the POA authority in your signature.
For example, if you’re Jane Smith empowered as the agent for Dorothy Smith, you might sign either as:
“Dorothy Smith by Jane Smith under Power of Attorney” or “Jane Smith, attorney-in-fact for Dorothy Smith.”
It’s important to be clear that you aren’t signing for yourself but are, instead, signing for the principal. If you just sign your own name, it’s possible that you could be held personally accountable for anything you sign. Always be mindful that your signature clearly conveys that you are signing in a representative capacity and are not signing personally,
Questions about Power of Attorney documents? Give us a call.
We can help.
