Secure your financial affairs with confidence
Appoint a trusted person to manage your finances using FindLaw’s attorney-created forms and easy step-by-step process.
Choose your Iowa power of attorney options
Designate someone you trust to manage your finances or property with a power of attorney. Ensure comprehensive protection for you and your loved ones and secure your future with an estate planning forms package.
Power of Attorney
Customize a power of attorney to suit your needs
BEST VALUE
Estate Planning Package
All the forms you need to create a personal estate plan
If you’re not satisfied, we’ve got you covered with a 30-day money back guarantee.
Still not sure what estate planning forms you need?
Header
Question
Do I really need a power of attorney?
A power of attorney provides backup if you cannot make financial decisions for yourself. If an accident or illness leaves you incapacitated, your loved ones may need to petition the court for a conservatorship. You can avoid this scenario by executing a power of attorney today.
FindLaw provides an easy-to-use service where you can create your own power of attorney quickly and securely.
Click on the links below to jump down the page:
How it works
The process takes less than an hour, and you can complete it from the comfort of your home.
Create an account
Create a secure account which is accessible through an easy dashboard you can access any time
Gather information
Indicate who your agent will be and what authority you want them to have
Complete your document
Answer all questions, then we’ll generate your digital documents for downloading, printing, and signing
Make it legal
Carefully follow the instructions provided in the form, which may include signing your documents in front of witnesses or a notary
Plan for your future with confidence
This free guide will help you:
Learn the most common estate planning terms
Understand the essential estate planning tools
Gather critical information with an estate planning checklist
How to get a power of attorney
Understand how a POA works in Iowa
A power of attorney is a legal document that grants authority to another person to act in your place. The one creating the document (you) is the principal, while the individual they appoint is the agent or attorney-in-fact.
In Iowa, general powers of attorney are presumed durable unless indicated otherwise. ‘Durable’ means a power of attorney remains in effect regardless of your future disability or mental incapacity.
Powers of attorney can be as broad or limited as the principal desires. Durable powers of attorney (meant to fill in if you are incapacitated or unavailable) grant broad powers so the agent can manage all of your affairs. Limited powers of attorney either grant specific powers to an agent (like financial transactions) or only give authority to complete a single transaction.
Choose your agent
Your agent should be trustworthy and knowledgeable about your financial, business, real estate, and other personal matters. Many people choose their spouse, partner, close friend, or business partner to act in this capacity. Consider selecting a successor agent just in case your primary agent cannot act on these duties in the future.
Assign duties to your agent
You can assign all the duties listed in your power of attorney form or limit them by crossing them out. Remember that if you limit your agent too much, they may not be able to act on your behalf in essential matters.
Hire a notary public
State law requires that you sign your power of attorney in front of a notary public and add their acknowledgment. You can find notary publics at financial institutions or hire a mobile notary to visit you at work or home. If you work with a law firm to review your power of attorney, they will likely have a notary on staff who can help you.
Make copies
Once finished, make copies of your power of attorney and provide them to your agent, family members, and anyone else affected by its contents. Store the original in a fireproof filing cabinet or a safe deposit box. Inform your agent where you keep the original.
If you decide to revoke your power of attorney, you can do that by drafting a new one or signing a revocation of power of attorney form.
Frequently asked questions about Iowa powers of attorney
Besides offering reassurance for these just-in-case scenarios, there are specific situations that make powers of attorney more critical. If you face any of these circumstances, a power of attorney is an effective fail-safe:
- Chronic or terminal illness
- Deployed in the armed services
- Travel abroad frequently due to personal or work commitments
- Hazardous work conditions and exposure to toxic chemicals
But powers of attorney are a good thing for everyone to have in case of an unexpected illness or injury. It is almost always better to make a decision yourself than to rely on a judge to make it for you should anything ever happen. Under a conservatorship, the court appoints someone to manage your affairs for you. There is no guarantee that the conservator will be your first choice for this role or that they will handle matters consistent with your wishes. It is easier, and often less expensive, to execute a power of attorney and plan all of this ahead of time.
You can find free power of attorney forms online. However, there is no guarantee that they are appropriate for your situation or enforceable in Iowa. It is better to pay a small amount of money to have a form you can trust.
Most people don’t need a lawyer for a simple power of attorney. If, however, you have significant financial assets, own a business, or don’t know who to pick for your agent, consider hiring a lawyer to help you with estate planning.
You may want to speak with a lawyer if:
- You don’t know who to choose as your agent
- You want to use a POA for Medicaid planning
- You want to discuss which powers you should give your agent
- You want legal review of your completed power of attorney