Your Power of Attorney

List 1 of 2

Everyday powers

On your paper, look for this headingGRANT OF GENERAL AUTHORITY

These are the 13 kinds of money and property your agent can help with. The last line gives all 13 at once.

Most people initial only the last line, "All preceding subjects." That one line gives your agent every power on this list, so your agent can help with anything that comes up. Go to the last line

Want to give only some? Initial those lines and leave the last line empty.

• Real property

  Land and buildings. Your agent can buy, sell, rent out, manage, or borrow against them.

• Tangible personal property

  Things you can touch, like cars, furniture, and jewelry. Your agent can buy, sell, or look after them.

• Stocks and bonds

  Your agent can buy and sell stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.

• Commodities and options

  A kind of investment few people own. Your agent can buy and sell them.

• Banks and other financial institutions

  Your agent can use, open, and close your bank accounts, pay bills, write checks, and borrow money. Your agent can also open your safe deposit box and take things out or put things in.

• Operation of entity or business

  Your agent can run or sell a business you own, or your share of one.

• Insurance and annuities

  Your agent can buy, change, cash in, or cancel insurance policies and annuities, pay for them, and borrow against them. This line does not let your agent change who gets the money when you die.

• Estates, trusts, and other beneficial interests

  If you are owed something from a will, a trust, or an estate, your agent can collect it and deal with it for you. Your agent can also move your things into your own living trust.

• Claims and litigation

  Your agent can bring, defend, or settle a lawsuit for you.

• Personal and family maintenance

  Your agent can pay for daily living for you and the family you support, at the level you live now. That includes housing, food, clothing, medical care, school, a car, and travel.

• Benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service

  Your agent can apply for and manage Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits.

• Retirement plans

  Your agent can manage your IRA, 401(k), or pension. That means putting money in and taking money out. This line does not let your agent change who gets the account when you die.

• Taxes

  Your agent can file your tax returns, pay your taxes, and talk to the IRS for you.

• All preceding subjects

  This means everything above. One set of initials gives your agent every power on this list.

List 2 of 2

Bigger powers

On your paper, look for this headingGRANT OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)

These 9 powers can change what you own, or who gets it when you die. The last line of List 1 does not cover them. Your agent gets one of these only if you initial that line.

Initial a line only if you want your agent to be able to do it. You may leave them all empty. Not sure about one? Reply to our email and ask.

• Make, change, or end a living trust for me

  Your agent could make a living trust for you, move your things into one, change one, or end one. The form calls a living trust an "inter vivos trust."

  On the formCreate, fund, amend, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust

• Give away my money or property

  Your agent could give away your money or property. Georgia law caps each gift at the federal gift tax limit for the year, for each person. The cap is double if you are married. The Special Instructions part of your form can raise or lower the cap.

  On the formMake a gift, subject to the limitations of O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-56 and any Special Instructions in this power of attorney

• Add or remove a co-owner who gets the property when I die

  Your agent could add or take off a co-owner who gets the property when you die.

  On the formCreate or change rights of survivorship

• Change who gets my insurance or retirement accounts

  Your agent could change who gets your life insurance or retirement account when you die.

  On the formCreate or change a beneficiary designation

• Hand the agent job to someone else

  Your agent could hand the job to someone else.

  On the formAuthorize another person to exercise the authority granted under this power of attorney

• Give up my payments from my spouse’s pension or annuity

  Your agent could give up your right to keep getting payments from your spouse’s pension or annuity after your spouse dies.

  On the formWaive the principal’s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan

• Read my emails, texts, and online messages

  Your agent could read your emails, texts, and other online messages.

  On the formExercise authority over the content of electronic communications sent or received by the principal

• Do a job I hold for someone else, like trustee

  If you act for someone else, like as a trustee, your agent could do the parts of that job the law lets you hand off. It only covers jobs named in the Special Instructions part of your form.

  On the formExercise fiduciary powers that the principal has authority to delegate and that are expressly and clearly identified (including the persons for which the principal acts as a fiduciary) in the Special Instructions

• Say no to money or property left to me

  Your agent could say no to money or property left to you, so it goes to the next person in line.

  On the formRenounce an interest in property, including a power of appointment