How to Get Power of Attorney if a Spouse Is Deployed

Whenever you deploy, your spouse should at least have a limited power of attorney.

Once you find out that your military spouse is going to be deployed, you should request that he give you power of attorney while he is gone. Giving you power of attorney allows you to complete financial transactions, receive his mail, sign contracts and execute other personal business in his stead. Depending on the time period in which your spouse is going to be deployed, the need for this power of attorney can vary. To ensure that you will be able to do anything necessary, it is best to establish the power of attorney before he deploys.

Instructions

1. Visit the military legal office that is most convenient for you. All military legal offices are capable of handling the affairs of any branch of the military so you do not need to pick one that matches your spouse's branch of the military.

2. Fill out the power of attorney paperwork to establish yourself as your spouse's power of attorney while he is deployed. You can either attain a general power of attorney, which allows you to do just about anything in his name, or a limited power of attorney, which limits the types of transactions you can handle. You may also choose to limit your power of attorney to the specific time period during which your spouse will be gone.

3. Sign the forms in front of a notary public at the legal office. Your spouse must sign the paperwork in the presence of a notary public for the papers to be legal.

4. Present photo identification for everyone involved. Your spouse must show both his military ID and another form of photo identification with a signature, such as a driver's license. You only need one form of photo identification that also bears your signature.

Tips & Warnings

• Make an appointment at the military legal office to avoid long waits during the free drop-in times.

• If your spouse has already left for his deployment, you may still be able to get power of attorney if he can obtain the forms where he is deployed and signs the papers in front of his unit's notary public.

References

• Mil Spouse; The Importance of a Power of Attorney; Diane Alpeter
• Ohio National Guard: Pre-Deployment Tips for Soldiers
• Naval Postgraduate School: Powers of Attorney

Resources

• U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance: Legal Services Locator