• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Kuhn and Kuhn Law Firm

South Carolina Estate Planning Attorneys

  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • About The American Academy
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Talkin Law
  • Services
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Charleston Pet Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family Farms and Businesses
    • Healthcare Documents and DPOAs
    • Incapacity Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Living Trusts
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Will Packages
  • Reports
    • Advanced Estate Planning
    • Basic Estate Planning
    • Estate Planning for Niches
    • Trust Administration
  • Resources
    • Client Resources – Estate Planning
    • Consumer Resources – Estate Planning  
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Professional Resources
  • Contact Us
    • Directions to Our Charleston Office
  • Blog
Home / Power of Attorney / Financial Power of Attorney / The Risks Associated with NOT Having a Power of Attorney

The Risks Associated with NOT Having a Power of Attorney

November 23, 2011 by John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney

A financial power of attorney or power of attorney for healthcare can be an extremely beneficial addition to your estate plan.  Both of these documents can make a big difference in your life, if you’re ever unable to make your own decisions.

Not having a power of attorney has risks.  Take a look at some of the information below to learn more about the importance of a power of attorney.  If you become incapacitated risks are realized:

  • Without a financial power of attorney, your family will have to go to court in order to get the legal authority needed to access your bank accounts and other financial information.  This can make it extremely difficult and time consuming to pay your bills and expenses.
  • During the court process, your bills may go unpaid and your family may not be able to get the money that you need for your care.
  • Without a power of attorney for healthcare, your family will have to go to court in order to get the legal authority needed to help make your important medical decisions regarding treatment and procedures.   This can be an extremely lengthy and costly process.
  • If you don’t have a power of attorney for healthcare, you may have no control over your healthcare decisions.   This means that your wishes may not be followed.

 

If you have yet to create a power of attorney, now is the time to do so.  Taking the time to create both a power of attorney for healthcare and financial power of attorney can allow you to be prepared for an emergency situation.

It’s also important to make sure that your loved ones know that these documents exist! Without knowledge of a legal document’s location, it may be ineffective.

If you have additional questions or if you’d like to create a power of attorney, consult with an estate planning attorney.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney
Former South Carolina State Senator, John Kuhn is a founding partner of the Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm.The Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm is a boutique estate planning (wills, trusts and probate) firm, which he and his wife opened in 2002.The law firm was created to serve clients who want an excellent and thorough estate plan.
Latest posts by John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Preparing for Coronavirus - March 10, 2020
  • Incapacity Planning - December 20, 2018
  • Special Accounts for People with Special Needs - December 17, 2018

Filed Under: Financial Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, Power of Attorney Tagged With: Estate Planning, Incapacity Planning, Power of Attorney

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Blog

Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm

Charleston
473 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: 843-577-3700

Charleston Map

map for Charleston office

Kuhn & Kuhn Law Firm

Summerville
421 Old Trolley Road
Summerville, SC 29485
Phone: Our Satellite Office

Summerville Map

map for Summerville office

Opening Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

  • About The Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

© 2023 Kuhn and Kuhn Law Firm
All Rights Reserved.
Attorney Advertisement

footer-logo

Subscribe to our newsletter

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Twitter

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

Copyright © 2023 · Kuhn & Kuhn on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in