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An Alabama Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that gives a selected person or organization permission to handle financial matters on your behalf, such as signing contracts, accessing your bank account(s), and buying or selling property.

This section of the advance directive form is called a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. It lets you appoint a specific person who is at least 19 years of age to make health care decisions for you if you are too sick to make decisions for yourself. This person will be called your Health Care Proxy.

A general power of attorney lets someone act pretty much like you. A durable power of attorney continues even after you become incapacitated. If you do not use the word "durable," a power ends when you become incapacitated. A springing power of attorney takes effect when something happens.

While Alabama does not technically require you to get your POA notarized, notarization is very strongly recommended. Under Alabama law, when you sign your POA in the presence of a notary public, you signature is presumed to be genuine?meaning your POA is more ironclad.

The specific guidelines and restrictions are different by state; however, in Alabama, your Power of Attorney will need to be signed by two witnesses. Witnesses cannot be anyone who is responsible for the cost of your medical care, nor should they be a spouse/relative, heir or any other beneficiary.

The difference has to do with whether the powers remain effective after the onset of a disability. That is, the regular power of attorney ceases to be effective if you become disabled, whereas the ?durable? power of attorney continues to be effective despite your subsequent disability.