Built for adult children
This page is written for the son, daughter, or caregiver helping a parent get a financial POA organized.
Caregiver support page
Power of Attorney for an Aging Parent
A guided self-help path for adult children helping a parent prepare a financial POA. Free to start, $35 only if you download.
- Built for adult children helping a parent with a financial POA.
- Start with a fit check instead of a giant legal-document catalog.
- Online notarization is separate and optional later when it fits.
Start with a fit check
Start free POA fit check
Use the short fit check first so we can point you toward the closest self-serve POA path for your family.
This check is for orientation only. It does not replace legal advice.
Why this path is different
One POA path, not a giant catalog
The fit check keeps you focused on the closest starting point instead of sending you through unrelated legal products.
We flag when self-serve may not fit
Capacity concerns, family conflict, or institution-specific requirements are signs to pause before drafting.
Preview before payment
The fit check is free. You pay $35 only if you decide to download the draft.
Caregiver FAQ
These are the questions families usually ask before they start a POA for a parent.
Can I help my parent complete a POA?
Yes, you can help gather information and move through the workflow if your parent can understand what they are signing and wants to proceed. The decision and signature still belong to your parent.
What if my parent has memory loss or early dementia?
Pause if memory loss or early dementia makes it unclear whether your parent understands the document or agrees voluntarily. That may be a sign self-serve is not the right fit and legal help may be appropriate.
What if siblings disagree?
Pause if siblings or other relatives disagree, claim someone is being pressured, or may challenge the document later. That kind of conflict may put the situation outside a self-serve workflow.
Will my parent's bank accept the POA?
Banks and other institutions can have their own review process and may prefer their own forms. We cannot guarantee acceptance.
What if an institution gave us its own form?
Ask whether that form is required before paying for a draft. If the institution requires its own form or custom wording, self-serve may not be the right fit and legal help may be appropriate.
General POA vs Special POA
In this workflow, a general POA is typically the broader ongoing-help path and a special POA is typically the limited-task path. The fit check helps you start with the closer path, but it is not legal advice.
When do I pay?
The fit check is free. The POA draft costs $35 only if you choose to download it.
Is online notarization included?
No. Online notarization is a separate optional step and is not included in the $35 POA download.
When to pause self-serve and consider legal help
Self-serve may not fit if any of these are true:
- Your parent may not fully understand the document or may not want to sign.
- Memory loss or early dementia may make capacity unclear.
- Siblings or other relatives disagree, apply pressure, or may challenge the document.
- A bank, hospital, title company, or agency gave you its own form or asked for custom legal wording.
- You need legal advice about Medicaid, tax issues, estate planning, disputes, or cross-state use.
Ready to sort the next step?
Use the fit check first. It is the quickest way to see whether a self-serve POA path still makes sense for your family.
Go to the fit check