Agents and Alternate Agents – Your Power of Attorney

You already understand the importance of signing a durable financial power of attorney. You know that you need advance health care directives, including a health care power of attorney. But have you thought about the importance of selecting your agents and alternate agents? How many agents should you name on your powers of attorney? Should multiple agents be empowered to act independently of one another? Or should they have to act together, or by some kind of consensus? What about the naming of alternates? Would they be authorized to act any time the primary agent is unavailable, or should the succession only take place upon the death or incapacity of your primary agent? Most people overlook the significance of identifying their agents and alternate agents, and giving them directions about when — and how — to act. In this podcast episode, we talk about some of the rules — and your choices.