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Power of Attorney
Can a name be added as a secondary healthcare power of attorney after the form has been activated?

Can a name be added as a secondary healthcare power of attorney after the form has been activated?

Q: What three decisions cannot be made by a legal power of attorney?

A legal power of attorney typically cannot make decisions regarding the principal's marriage, create or revoke a will, or make decisions about the principal's healthcare if the principal has specified otherwise in their advance directives. These limitations can vary based on state laws and the specific terms of the POA.

Q: Does a new POA automatically revoke an old one?

In general, a new power of attorney does revoke an old one, but this depends on the language in the new document. It's advisable to explicitly state that the new POA revokes any prior ones to avoid confusion. Always check state laws for specific requirements.

Q: Can you have two medical powers of attorney?

You can appoint multiple medical powers of attorney, but it's important to clarify their roles in the document. Typically, one primary agent is preferred to avoid conflicts. If multiple agents are appointed, the principal should specify how decisions are to be made.

Q: What is secondary power of attorney?

A secondary power of attorney refers to an alternate agent designated to act on behalf of the principal if the primary agent is unavailable or unable to perform their duties. This ensures that there is always someone authorized to make decisions for the principal when needed.

Full question:

Can a name be added as a secondary healthcare power of attorney after the form has been activated? For instance, if the healthcare power of attorney is travelling, can someone else be added to act in the interests of the principal? The principal may or may not be considered compentent to revoke the activated power of attorney and execute a new one.

Category: Power of Attorney
Date: 04/07/2025
State: Wisconsin

Answer:

Wisconsin allows an alternate health care agent to be appointed by the principal, but the principal must be competent to do so.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Can the POA add another POA?

A power of attorney (POA) cannot simply add another POA. The principal must create a new document to appoint another agent. If the original POA is still active, the principal must be competent to revoke it and execute a new one. If the principal is not competent, they cannot make changes to the existing POA.