Asked in Internet Law for Ohio

Q: If a durable power attorney is printed off the internet will it say it was prepared by a attorney at the bottom of it a

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James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: No, a durable power of attorney document that is printed off the internet would not have any indication it was prepared by an attorney at the bottom of it.

Durable POA forms found online are generally basic templates or sample documents that individuals can print and fill out themselves. They do not involve attorney preparation or review. As such, these internet-sourced forms lack legal customization and do not come with an attorney name, bar number, or any other typical evidence of formal legal engagement.

The bottom of a POA completed without attorney involvement would instead likely only include:

- Signature and name of the person granting the POA (the "Principal")

- Signature and name of the person being granted the POA (the "Agent" or "Attorney-in-fact")

- Dates the signatures were made to reflect execution

- Potentially the Principal's address or other basic identification

So in summary - no, there would be no attorney name or other language denoting legal review on a POA printed and executed privately using just an online template. The lack of such legal references may in fact undermine assumptions others can make about that document's validity and customization to a specific situation. Consulting a lawyer to tailor and vet a POA is always advisable for optimal enforceability and protection.

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