Estate Planning
Powers of
Attorney
Decide now who manages your finances and health care if you can't — and keep those decisions out of guardianship court.
- Property power of attorney
- Health care power of attorney
- Illinois & Missouri
- Part of every plan
Incapacity planning
The documents that work while you're alive.
A power of attorney lets someone you trust act for you — paying bills, managing accounts, or making medical decisions — if illness or injury ever leaves you unable to act for yourself.
Without them, your family may have to petition a court for guardianship: a public, costly, and slow process to gain authority you could have granted in advance with a signature. We prepare powers of attorney for both Illinois and Missouri clients — and because Illinois updated its statutory property power-of-attorney requirements effective 2025, older Illinois documents are especially worth a fresh look.
Two documents, two jobs
Coverage for money and for medicine
Property POA
Authorizes your agent to handle financial matters — banking, bills, property, and investments — if you cannot.
Health care POA
Names who makes medical decisions for you and records your wishes about treatment and care.
Avoid guardianship
Grant authority in advance and spare your family a public, court-supervised guardianship proceeding.
Stay current
We draft to current Illinois and Missouri law — including the amended Illinois Power of Attorney Act — so your documents will be honored when needed.
What's at stake
With POAs vs. without
With powers of attorney
- You choose who acts for you
- Authority is available immediately when needed
- Your treatment wishes are on the record
- No court involvement required
Without them
- Family must petition a court for guardianship
- A judge decides who has authority
- Public, costly, and slow to obtain
- Decisions may stall during an emergency
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a power of attorney and a will?
A power of attorney works while you're alive — it lets someone act for you if you're incapacitated. A will only takes effect after death. Most plans need both, because they cover entirely different moments.
Does Illinois have new power of attorney requirements?
Yes. Illinois amended its statutory requirements for property powers of attorney effective 2025. Documents drafted under older rules are worth reviewing to confirm they'll still be honored.
When does a power of attorney take effect?
It depends on how it's drafted. Some take effect immediately; others ('springing' powers) take effect only upon incapacity. We'll talk through which approach fits your situation.
Make sure someone can step in if you can't
A free 15-minute call to put the right incapacity documents in place — or update ones you already have.