A General Durable Power of Attorney lets you designate a trusted person to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. It is one of the most important legal documents every adult in California should have — yet most families never prepare one until it is too late. Complete yours in under 15 minutes, bilingual, no attorney required.
Every adult over age 18 should have a Durable Power of Attorney. It is especially urgent if you: hold a bank account or property in your name, are a parent of minor children, have aging parents, travel frequently, or live alone. Without this document, if you suffer an accident or incapacitating illness, your family must petition California probate court for a conservatorship — a process that costs $5,000–$15,000 and takes 4–6 months. With a Power of Attorney in place, your trusted agent can act immediately.
In California, the Durable Power of Attorney is governed by Probate Code §§4000-4545. To be valid, you must sign it before a notary public OR in front of two adult witnesses (we recommend notarization because most banks require it). The document must clearly identify the "principal" (you), the "agent" (your trusted person), and a "successor agent" (backup). If you grant powers over real property, the document must also be recorded with the County Recorder of the county where the property is located.
Just $149. An attorney in Los Angeles would charge $400–$1,200 for the same document. Our self-help platform lets you prepare it yourself in under 15 minutes.
In California it can be valid with two unrelated adult witnesses, but we always recommend notarization because banks, hospitals, and agencies almost always require it.
Yes, at any time. Use our Revocation of Power of Attorney document ($79) and notify your agent in writing. If you recorded the POA with the County Recorder, you must also record the revocation.
The General grants broad authority over all financial matters. The Limited grants authority for a single specific transaction (e.g., selling a house). For medical decisions, use the separate Advance Health Care Directive.
No, but your agent must be able to exercise the powers within California. If you live outside California but own assets in California, this is the right document.
In other U.S. states, generally yes — most states recognize valid POAs from other states ("Full Faith and Credit"). To be valid in Mexico, it must be apostilled (separate process). If you need to use it in Mexico, also prepare our Apostille Cover Letter ($79).
That is why the document includes a "successor agent." If the primary agent dies, becomes incapacitated, resigns, or simply is unavailable, the successor automatically steps in. Our Power of Attorney lets you name up to 2 successors in order of priority.
The agent has a legal "fiduciary duty" — they must ALWAYS act in your benefit, not their own. If the agent uses it for personal gain, that is fraud and they can be sued civilly and criminally. That is why it is CRITICAL to choose someone you trust absolutely. If you have any doubts, consider designating 2 agents who must act jointly.
Multi Servicios 360 | www.multiservicios360.net | 855.246.7274
Additional legal documents that clients in your situation frequently request with Multi Servicios 360, a self-help legal document preparation platform.
Multi Servicios 360 es una plataforma tecnológica de autoayuda que permite a las personas preparar sus propios documentos legales. No somos un bufete de abogados, no actuamos como abogados, no redactamos documentos por usted, y no brindamos asesoría legal ni recomendaciones sobre qué documentos legales son apropiados para su situación específica. Si necesita asesoría legal, debe consultar a un abogado licenciado en California.