So You're the Power of Attorney: What to Do, Say, and Document as an Agent for Aging Parent or Spouse

You didn't apply for this job - but you're the one who has to do it right. A parent had a fall, a diagnosis, a bad week, and somewhere in the paperwork you found out you're the one now authorized to manage their money, their medical decisions, or both. This is not a book about how to draft a power of attorney. It's a field guide for the person who's already holding one and needs to know exactly what to do with it - this week, at this bank, in this hospital hallway. Inside, 24 self-contained entries walk you through the situations agents actually face: - The exact script for getting a resistant bank teller to honor a valid document- A titling checklist that keeps your money and the principal's money completely separate- A Major Decision Record template for healthcare choices you can defend later- The compensation rules for paying yourself properly, documented so it never looks like theft- A family communication log that heads off sibling accusations before they start- The exact sequence for a hospital discharge appeal, with the deadline most families miss- A clear line between routine bill-paying and the bigger decisions that need extra documentation This book is not for you if you're looking to draft a new power of attorney document from scratch, or want a general overview of estate law - it's written for the agent who already has the document in hand and needs to act on it. Every entry stands alone. Open to the one you need tonight, do what it says, and put the book down until the next thing happens. Completes a three-part series alongside guides for executors and guardians - for the family member who keeps ending up the one in charge, and wants to do it right.