Free Fillable Wisconsin Power of Attorney Form

According to U.S. laws, the Wisconsin power of attorney forms may be used as a legal tool for passing some legal authorities from one person (the principal) to another person they choose as a trusted agent. The power of attorney form is powerful in legal terms because it empowers the agent to act on the principal’s behalf on all critical matters, such as signing business documents, conducting financial affairs, making life-changing decisions for the principal’s children, etc.

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Free Fillable Wisconsin Power of Attorney Form

The POA document may be required for those who feel declining health may prevent them from making vital decisions or those who need to leave the country for a long period, requiring somebody to manage their affairs temporarily. Whatever the reason for drafting a POA, you should be totally confident in the person to whom you’re giving the power to act on your behalf as they will have the right to sign documents on your behalf.

Why Use a POA Form in Wisconsin

The procedure of completing a legally valid power of attorney in Wisconsin is regulated by Chapter 244 of the Wisconsin State Legislature’s statutes related to the uniform power of attorney for finances and property. This law sets all the definitions for POA parties, explains the duration of these documents’ effect, and stipulates the legal guidelines for assigning coagents and successor agents, reimbursement for the agents’ duties, agents’ duties, and all other POA-related issues.

While everyone planning the completion of a POA document should be aware of the terms set in this state law, the basic requirements are as follows:

All parties of the POA document should be at least 18 years old and of sound mind to confirm their free will and voluntary completion of the form.
The POA form should be signed and dated in the presence of two witnesses. For it to take legal effect, the form should be notarized.
Durable POAs come into effect only after two physicians confirm the principal’s incapacity.
The POA document can be filed to the state register if the principal doesn’t mind making it public.

Why do Wisconsin citizens choose to complete POA documents and delegate their authority and duties to other people? There are many reasons to do that, both related to the principal’s health and coming from other sources. For example, businesspeople or military personnel have to travel much, and their underage children and property assets are left at home without proper guardianship. So, such people assign agents to act on their behalf while they are away so that a qualified and good-meaning person makes important routine decisions. Others choose to assign agents via POA documents because they feel unqualified for some issues, such as selling or buying real estate or filing taxes. In some cases, individuals assign agents because of their deteriorating health and fear not to be able to manage all their financial and property matters well.

Wisconsin Power of Attorney Forms

Those who have decided to complete a POA document to secure things in their lives can choose among the following Wisconsin power of attorney forms.

General POA

The general power of attorney document is meant for delegating the management of financial affairs to an agent. The latter becomes unable to sign documents on the principal’s behalf if the principal becomes disabled or dies, with the POA document losing its force.

Limited or Springing POA

In case you don’t want to assign broad authority to your agent and need them to complete only several specific functions instead, then the choice should be made for the limited POA. This type of delegation can cover only a narrow set of functions, such as signing a property sale or purchase document, paying for the principal’s kids’ education, etc. The limited POA may also be created for a specific event, meaning that once that event takes place, the POA “springs” into effect.

Durable POA

The durable POA is traditionally considered an extended version of the general document. The sense is in its duration even after the principal’s incapacitation. However, the durable POA becomes void after the principal’s death.

Medical POA

This POA type is meant explicitly for the delegation of treatment-related decisions to an agent. The document, however, doesn’t cover making life support decisions. That is, the agent cannot decide to stop life-sustaining support for the principal.

Minor Child POA

You’ll need this POA if you have to leave the country while your underage children stay there and need to have their affairs managed regularly. With a minor child POA, you assign an agent to make decisions regarding your kids’ education and well-being while you’re temporarily away.

Revocation POA

Though this document is also referred to as a POA, in fact, it is the form used to terminate a POA arrangement. When signing it, you annul any POA you signed before, thus depriving your agent of the assigned authority.

Vehicle POA

This document is usually signed by a vehicle owner and a dealer who is entrusted with selling your motor vehicle. This arrangement allows you not to be present at every potential deal, saving you time and effort in the process of a vehicle sale or purchase deal.

Real Estate POA

The same goes for the real estate POA – a document allowing the assigned agent to complete property sale or purchase deals on your behalf. Why attend all property shows and hold all negotiations is an experienced professional can do it for you?

State Tax Power of Attorney

The final type of POA we discuss here allows you to assign a qualified tax assistant to act on your behalf when preparing and filing your taxes. This function is performed according to the Wisconsin laws, with the agent completing and filing Form A-222 to the state’s relevant tax agency.