A power of attorney form could give other people the right to make your healthcare and financial decisions, even if you’re incapacitated. In this post, we’ll show you six reasons to consider using a printable revocation of power of attorney form PDF.
1. A Lack of Trust
A power of attorney arrangement only works when you trust your agent to make the right call — this usually means they’ll follow your wishes to the letter. If you don’t trust the agent anymore or worry they wouldn’t make the tough choices, fill out a revocation form.
This doesn’t have to be due to a fractured friendship or a big fight between you and the agent. It might simply be that you two aren’t as close as you used to be. In this situation, you may simply think someone else in your life is a better fit.
2. Agent Misuse
On the more extreme end of the spectrum, you might know that your agent would use your PoA unscrupulously. They may have even knowingly made bad decisions for you in the past.
Here are just a few examples of how an agent can abuse their powers:
- Making investments for their benefit
- Keeping you on life support against your wishes
- Accepting treatments you wouldn’t
- Not handling your finances responsibly
- Withholding information from your family
- Going beyond the limits you place on their authority
If you suspect (or have evidence that) the agent would do any of these, end the agreement. The longer you keep it in effect, the more likely it is that your suspicions could be proven correct.
3. No Longer Necessary
Not every PoA revocation is full of worries about choosing the right agent. Instead, you may not need it in its current form.
You should still have a power of attorney in case of an emergency, but many people put them together to reflect a specific situation. For example, you may have short-term physical or mental health problems. Once you’ve recovered, the PoA might not be fit for purpose.
Keeping your outdated power of attorney active gives your agent powers they don’t need. You’ll also run into problems if you simply make a new PoA without revoking the old one. The new one will take priority, but two conflicting documents could confuse people.
Think carefully about how your new PoA will differ, and consider if you’ll want the same agent or if you’d rather trust someone else.
4. Your Agent is Inaccessible
You or your agent might have moved away, making it harder for them to make your case when you’re incapacitated. While they can offer help over the phone, they won’t be able to visit to talk to your doctors or bank in person, possibly slowing everything down.
Alternatively, your agent might be ill or incapacitated themselves — they may even simply be on vacation. Even if they’ll only be gone for a short while, you don’t know when an emergency may strike. You need an active, available agent who can be there with you when it counts.
5. Changes in Your Preferences
Nobody stays the same forever; you might one day disagree with what you initially wrote in your POA. For example, you may suddenly decide you’d rather forego life support in the future. Here are some other potential changes that require a PoA rewrite:
- Preferring comfort-based care over aggressive treatments
- Wanting to take more risks with your investment portfolio
- Deciding you’d rather your property stay in the family
- You may have also reconciled with an estranged family member
- Deciding to prioritize wealth for heirs over medical expenses
- Finding religion might change which treatments you’re okay with
It’s your right to change your preferences for treatment or how you’d manage your finances. You must then immediately revoke your PoA and make another that reflects your new views. You will also have to contact your agent and make sure they know your new wishes.
6. Your Agent Passed Away
It’s entirely possible that your agent will pass away before you need their help. You should have a successor agent already lined up, but you might rethink them when they’re no longer a backup option.
Alternatively, if you didn’t have a successor, your PoA will be left in limbo with nobody allowed to act on your behalf. Revoke it immediately and set up a new one, this time with multiple potential agents.
The death of a loved one can also greatly affect your wishes, especially when it comes to health and finances. It may be a wake-up call to think more about how you’d like things to unfold while you’re incapacitated.
Final Thoughts
Your durable power of attorney gives a lot of power to someone else, and could even give them control over whether you live or die. If you’re uncomfortable with your current arrangement for any reason, revoke it.
