Baton Rouge Power of Attorney for Elderly Parents

When someone has accrued a lifetime’s worth of resources and wealth, it’s only natural to ensure that it is preserved and protected. Unfortunately, there are times when illness or the challenges of advanced age can interfere with a person’s ability to manage their own finances or estate. In such cases, they may choose one of their children or other trusted authority to hold power of attorney over their belongings and act in their interests. If you’re seeking power of attorney for your elderly parents in Baton Rouge, our experienced attorneys at The Law Offices of Ossie Brown are here to help.

Learn all about the laws governing power of attorney in Louisiana, and find out why you should consider the elder law experts at The Law Offices of Ossie Brown for your legal needs.

How a Power of Attorney Can Create Peace of Mind for Elderly Parents in Baton Rouge

When it comes to estate planning, the earlier the better. If a potentially debilitating health event occurs, it’s ideal if someone has already been selected to act in the impacted individual’s interests. This person, known as the agent, is appointed to make medical and financial decisions on behalf of another party, known as the principal. Examples of these decisions can include:

• Accessing the principal’s financial accounts for the purposes of managing their health and housing needs
• Managing the principal’s taxes and investments
• Determining who the principal’s doctors and/or caregivers will be
• Choosing the medical care the principal receives
• Determining where the principal lives, whether it be a relative’s home or an assisted living facility

These are just a few of the choices an agent with power of attorney may need to make on behalf of a principal. When choosing a power of attorney for elderly parents, it’s crucial to select respected and trustworthy elder law experts. The compassionate and knowledgeable attorneys at The Law Offices of Ossie Brown can help guide you through this process and assist you in reaching a favorable outcome.

Power of Attorney Abuse

In some instances, an agent sometimes does not live up to their fiduciary responsibilities. In these circumstances, they may commit abusive acts toward the principal or the principal’s interests after receiving power of attorney over them. Power of attorney abuse may include:

• Acting beyond the scope of the authority granted by the power of attorney agreement
• Misusing a principal’s money and/or resources for personal enrichment rather than using them for the principal’s benefit
• Forging power of attorney documents to assume the role of the principal’s agent under false pretenses

If you believe an agent holding power of attorney for your elderly parents is engaging in abuse, it’s time to get in touch with a trustworthy elder law attorney. They can work toward helping you find legal relief from the abusive behavior. This can involve requesting a legal injunction to remove power of attorney from the abusive agent, seeking restitution for the principal’s potential losses in civil court, and requesting court cost compensation from the abusive agent.