A general power of attorney is a legal document that grants someone else the authority to act on your behalf. This can include the right to make decisions and take actions for you in financial and legal matters. The person who receives the power of attorney becomes the attorney-in-fact and can, for example, manage your banking affairs, sign contracts, or communicate with government agencies on your behalf.
When might you need a general power of attorney?
You may need a general power of attorney when you’re capable of managing your own affairs but, for various reasons, can’t or prefer not to do so. It’s common to establish one, for example, when:
- Someone is traveling or living abroad for an extended period of time.
- It’s important that a trusted relative can help by making crucial decisions quickly when needed.
The general power of attorney is only valid as long as you’re capable of making your own decisions. If you lose the ability to make decisions, for example due to a serious illness, it ceases to be valid. In that case, you would instead need an enduring power of attorney.
Write it yourself or get help from a lawyer
There are two common ways to create a general power of attorney:
- Use a ready-made template
Many websites offer ready-made templates so you can draw up legal documents. This is a cheaper way to draw up legal documents when needed. When using a template, it’s important to make sure that the document is legally binding and correctly worded. Otherwise, the document can be invalid. - Use a specialized legal document service
At Kliently, you can draw up a general power of attorney in Swedish for individuals or businesses through our legal document service. Unlike the ready-made templates available online, our service guides you step by step through the entire document. Since you receive guidance on how to complete the document, you can be confident that your general power of attorney will be complete and legally binding once you receive it. - Get help from a lawyer
Sometimes, it can be a good idea to ask a lawyer for help when drawing up legal documents. A lawyer can tailor the power of attorney to your specific needs. This is especially useful when there are factors that could affect how the document needs to be written. And even if you don’t want a lawyer to draft the document, you can still ask to have it reviewed.
Keep in mind
- Choose a trustworthy person – Since the attorney-in-fact is given extensive rights, make sure you choose someone you truly trust.
- Be clear about the scope – Even though a general power of attorney can be broad and apply in many different situations, it can be wise to consider whether you want to specify that the holder isn’t given authority in certain specific matters.
- Store the original safely – Banks or other parties can want to see the original document.
- Consider its validity – If you want to revoke the power of attorney, you have to do so in writing and inform everyone who may have used it.
A general power of attorney can be a secure solution if you need someone to act on your behalf. However, it requires careful consideration of whom you choose and how you want to structure the document.
Do you need legal help?
We have several lawyers who can help you in this area. Book an appointment with one of them in the Kliently app, or contact us to hire one of the lawyers. We recommend: Samir Baraka,
Marie-Louise Silfwerax
