Make your Free
West Virginia Power of Attorney

A West Virginia Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that gives a selected person or entity the authority to handle legal and financial matters on your behalf, such as accessing bank accounts, selling your property, and signing contracts.

The individual granting permission is called the "principal," while the individuals or entities gaining authority are known as the "agents" or "attorneys-in-fact. Suitable for West Virginia residents, this Power of Attorney is made for use in Monongalia County, Kanawha County, Berkeley County, and in all other regions in the state. All West Virginia Power of Attorney forms from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized for your unique scenario. With this official document on hand, your agent(s) will be able to offer verification to financial institutions and other parties that they can sign documents or take other actions for you when you are not present or able.

It is fast and simple to give or receive the support you might need using a free West Virginia Power of Attorney template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your document - Answer a few questions and we will do the rest
2. Send and share - Look over it with your agent(s) or ask a lawyer
3. Sign it - Required or not, witnesses/notarization are ideal

This solution, in most cases, will end up being much less time-consuming than hiring and working with your average law firm. If necessary, you may start this PoA on behalf of a family member, and then have that person sign after you've drafted it. Keep in mind that for a Power of Attorney to be accepted as valid, the principal must be mentally competent when they sign. In the event that the principal has already been declared incompetent, a court-appointed conservatorship may be necessary. When dealing with such a scenario, it's important to talk to a lawyer.

Every adult should have a Power of Attorney. Though it is unpleasant to think about, a day might come when you can no longer oversee your affairs by yourself. There will also be moments when you are merely out of pocket. Common situations where power of attorney might be useful include:

• You are preparing to move out of your home and into a residential care facility
• You are planning to live or travel out of state either temporarily or permanently
• You would like to grant a trusted person general authority to act on your behalf if you are legally incapacitated or not present
• You are getting older or have declining health or limited mobility

Whether this West Virginia Power of Attorney is being prepared as part of a forward-looking plan or made in response to an unexpected issue, witnesses and notarization are strongly encouraged for protecting your agent if their privileges are questioned.

There are a few ways to categorize Power of Attorney documents. They are largely dependent on how long the powers are in effect, when they will come into effect, and what they will provide authority over. Often, you may see them described in four segments:

• General Power of Attorney - Will grant broad powers over your affairs
• Special Power of Attorney - Will grant a limited scope of authority over specific matters
• Durable Power of Attorney - Will remain valid even when you become mentally incompetent or incapacitated
• Springing Power of Attorney - Will be activated based on certain events or criteria

When producing your free West Virginia Power of Attorney, you may choose to have the agent's authority begin on a desired date, immediately upon signing, or only at the time when you're not capable. The Power of Attorney may expire when you die or on a specific date.

West Virginia Power of Attorney forms are typically easy to make, but you or your agent might need advice. Getting a second pair of eyes on the document can take longer than you would expect if you attempt to do it alone. Another approach would be through Rocket Lawyer attorney services. Premium members have the ability to request advice from an attorney with relevant experience or ask other legal questions. As always, you can live confidently knowing that Rocket Lawyer is by your side.

The cost of hiring the average legal provider to draft a Power of Attorney might be anywhere between $200 and $500, based on your location. Unlike many other websites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than a Power of Attorney template. If you ever require help from a lawyer, your Rocket Lawyer membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an On Call attorney.

With a Premium membership, you can make edits, save it in PDF format or as a Word document, and/or print it out. When you are ready to finalize your Power of Attorney, it must be signed. You should be sure to send a final copy of the fully signed document to your agent(s), financial institutions, and other impacted parties.

The specific requirements governing PoA forms are different in each state; however, in West Virginia, your document will require the signature of a notary. If your agent will engage in real estate transactions, the Power of Attorney must be acknowledged by a notary public and filed or recorded with your county.

See West Virginia Power of Attorney law: Ch. 39B