Book excerpt: Every year, thousands of medical, financial, and legal issues crop up due to the confusion surrounding the specific directions of an individual incapable of making the necessary decisions about their estate, body, or finances. The same problems can arise for small businesses and, for that reason, understanding what power of attorney entails, and how you go about establishing it, is a vital step. This guide helps you cut away the confusing red tape and finally understand exactly what power of attorney involves and how you can use it to your advantage. The first thing you will learn is the various forms of power of attorney that are available to you, including for financial purposes, medical and health care purposes, living wills, childcare, and all-in-one purposes. The details of what an agent can supply in each instance will be provided to help you understand what each specific style of power of attorney will provide. The process of choosing your agent will be outlined in detail for you, including who is applicable and what important factors should be included in every discussion related to who your power of attorney will be. You will learn how to select a lawyer and whether you will be able to afford one in certain instances. You will be able to see what is involved in working with a lawyer and what you need to do if you decide to fire that particular lawyer. The federal laws and then the specific state laws that apply to your situation will be provided with details about how you can further research them to know how they apply to even more specific situations. For those seeking financial powers of attorney, you will learn how to limit the power of attorney, how that power applies to real estate, and how to acquire and use an affidavit of attorney in fact. For those with health care related issues, you will learn how a durable power of attorney operates for health care, how to choose someone to make medical treatment decisions, the creation and application of a living will, the specific presentation of a do not resuscitate order, and how to determine the distribution of anatomical gifts. Finally, issues such as child care and the revocation of a power of attorney will be discussed. With the assistance of dozens of interviews across multiple different fields with experts in law, family, and business applications of a power of attorney, you will be provided with an extensive overview of everything you need to know to effectively utilize this highly valuable legal tool. This book is the essential tool every small business or individual with need of a power of attorney needs. Atlantic Publishing is a small, independent publishing company based in Ocala, Florida. Founded over twenty years ago in the company presidentâe(tm)s garage, Atlantic Publishing has grown to become a renowned resource for non-fiction books. Today, over 450 titles are in print covering subjects such as small business, healthy living, management, finance, careers, and real estate. Atlantic Publishing prides itself on producing award winning, high-quality manuals that give readers up-to-date, pertinent information, real-world examples, and case studies with expert advice. Every book has resources, contact information, and web sites of the products or companies discussed.