Military Special Power of Attorney
If you are in the military and are going to be deployed or away from your home installation for an extended period of time, it is advisable to have a Power of Attorney prepared. A Power of Attorney allows another person to handle your personal affairs while you are away, and gives you the ability to focus on the military mission unhindered.
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Definition
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A Power of Attorney (POA) is a document that bears your signature, and is prepared and witnessed by a military attorney or paralegal. This document allows a person of your choice to handle your personal affairs while you are away on military duty. Powers of Attorney come in two forms: a General POA or a Special POA. A Special Power of Attorney is almost always the better choice for military members.
Limitations
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A Special POA only allows the person you choose to do a specific action while you are deployed, such as pay your electric bill or purchase license plates for your vehicle, handle child care or pet care, or any individual task that would require your signature or access to your sensitive personal information.
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Cost and Time
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For military members, a Special Power of Attorney is always offered free of charge by your local military legal office. A Special Power of Attorney can be prepared, signed and notarized in about 10 minutes, and is valid for one year in most cases.
Requirements
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When obtaining a Special POA, you will need to have the name and address of the person you are giving the power to (your Attorney-in-Fact). You will need the name and address of the creditor or agency, or the description and location of the property, or specific details about the item or account that the POA pertains to. You and the attorney or paralegal who is drafting and notarizing the POA are the only individuals who need to sign the document. Your Attorney-in-Fact does not need to be present at the signing, or sign the document.
Warning
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It's important to understand the distinction between a General POA and a Special POA. When you visit your military installation's legal office, you may be offered a General POA. General POAs are discouraged, as they are all-encompassing, and allow a person to do anything they want to in your name, including purchase a house, apply for loans or credit cards, buy a vehicle or a myriad of other actions. Basically, a General POA allows another person to be you in every legal sense. Special POAs are much safer and limit the amount of damage that can be done in your name while you are deployed.
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References
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