A Financial Power of Attorney is an important legal document that allows a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you are unable to act on your own behalf. In Rancho Mirage and throughout Riverside County, having a clear, properly drafted Financial Power of Attorney can prevent delays, confusion, and unnecessary court involvement. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists clients with assembling durable, limited, or springing financial powers that reflect their intentions and protect assets. We emphasize clear communication, careful drafting, and coordination with other estate planning documents to avoid conflicts and ensure continuity of financial management.
Many families think a verbal arrangement or an informal note will be enough until they face a banking, insurance, or retirement authority that requires formal documentation. A Financial Power of Attorney provides a legal path for someone you trust to pay bills, manage accounts, handle tax matters, and represent you before financial institutions. For Rancho Mirage residents, aligning this document with California law and with concurrent estate planning tools such as trusts, pour-over wills, and healthcare directives helps ensure your financial affairs will be handled according to your wishes if you become incapacitated or unavailable.
A Financial Power of Attorney streamlines access to assets and authorizes decisions when you cannot act. Benefits include faster access to bank accounts, timely management of bills and payroll, the authority to work with retirement plan administrators, and the ability to file or respond to tax matters on your behalf. When coordinated with a revocable living trust and a pour-over will, a properly executed Financial Power of Attorney reduces the likelihood of family disputes and costly delays. For Rancho Mirage residents, this practical legal tool supports financial continuity while preserving your intentions for asset management and distribution.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients across California with a focus on practical estate planning solutions tailored to each family’s needs. We take a client-centered approach that emphasizes clear explanations, careful drafting, and coordination among documents like powers of attorney, trusts, wills, and healthcare directives. Our practice helps clients anticipate common financial issues that arise with incapacity, retirement, and long-term planning. In Rancho Mirage, the firm works to ensure documents are accepted by banks, investment firms, and government agencies so that transitions are handled smoothly and respectfully for the individual and their loved ones.
In California a Financial Power of Attorney can be durable, limited, or springing, and each form has different practical implications. A durable Financial Power of Attorney remains in force even if the principal becomes incapacitated, while a limited document grants specific authorities for a set time or purpose. A springing document becomes effective upon a specified event, such as a medical determination of incapacity. Choosing the right form requires careful consideration of your goals, your comfort with the agent you name, and how the document will interact with other estate planning instruments like trusts or retirement account beneficiary designations.
The decision to appoint an agent under a Financial Power of Attorney involves assessing trust, responsibility, and the anticipated duties that person will carry out. Authorities commonly granted include managing bank accounts, accessing safe deposit boxes, handling real estate transactions, filing tax returns, and dealing with retirement plan custodians. In many cases the document must be presented to institutions accompanied by identification and sometimes a creditor or third-party acceptance process. Effective planning also includes naming successor agents and giving clear written guidance to avoid disputes and ensure the agent acts in accordance with your intentions.
A Financial Power of Attorney authorizes another person — the agent — to make decisions and carry out transactions that you would otherwise handle yourself. This authority can cover a broad range of activities including banking, bill payment, investment decisions, real property transactions, and tax filings. The document will specify whether the agent can act immediately, only after a triggering event, or for a limited purpose. Drafting must reflect the scope of authority you intend to give, and it is important to state any restrictions, whether you want accounting requirements, and how successor agents are named so that the document remains effective throughout changing circumstances.
A strong Financial Power of Attorney includes clear identification of the principal and agent, a precise listing of powers granted, duration and triggering conditions, successor agent designations, and any limitations or instructions for the agent. Signatures must conform to California witnessing or notarization requirements to ensure acceptance. The process typically involves discussing objectives, choosing appropriate language, completing the document with required formalities, and providing certified copies to financial institutions, retirement plan custodians, and trusted family members. Periodic review is recommended so the document continues to reflect current wishes and changes in law or family circumstances.
Understanding the terminology used in powers of attorney helps you make informed choices. Terms such as agent, principal, durable, springing, limited authority, successor agent, and fiduciary obligations describe roles and legal duties. Clear definitions reduce ambiguity and prevent unwanted actions. For Rancho Mirage residents, familiarity with these terms supports better conversations with banks, trustees, and family members. A glossary also helps ensure that documents coordinate with other planning instruments such as revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and health care directives to create a coherent plan for financial and personal decision-making.
An agent is the person you appoint to act on your behalf under a Financial Power of Attorney. The agent’s authority is defined by the document and may include managing bank accounts, paying bills, handling investments, and interacting with government agencies. An agent has a legal duty to act in the principal’s best interests, following any instructions or limitations specified in the document. It is prudent to name a primary agent and one or more successor agents in case the primary agent is unwilling or unable to serve, and to communicate expectations and recordkeeping requirements before an urgent need arises.
The term durable indicates that the Financial Power of Attorney remains effective even if the principal becomes mentally or physically incapacitated. This continuity of authority is helpful to ensure bills are paid, investments are managed, and necessary financial decisions are made without court intervention. The document must include clear durable language recognized under California law. Durable powers of attorney are commonly paired with other planning documents so that management of financial affairs continues seamlessly alongside health care directives and trust provisions, reducing the risk of court-appointed conservatorship and the delays that accompany it.
A limited or specific power grants the agent authority for clearly defined transactions or a set period. Typical uses include authorizing the sale of real estate, permitting a person to complete a single financial transaction on your behalf, or granting temporary authority while you are traveling abroad. These documents are tailored to restrict actions beyond the stated purpose and often include an automatic termination date. Limited powers are useful when you want to authorize an action without providing broad authority over all financial matters and can reduce concerns about misuse or unintended long-term control.
A springing power of attorney becomes effective only upon a specified event, commonly a determination of incapacity. While this approach can feel protective, it may create practical hurdles since third parties sometimes require clear proof that the triggering event has occurred. Relying on medical or legal determinations can slow access to funds or decision-making. For many clients, carefully drafted durable instruments or clear criteria for the springing condition plus advance coordination with financial institutions reduces the risk of delay while still preserving control over when the agent’s authority begins.
Financial powers of attorney are one element of a broader estate plan that may include revocable living trusts, wills, health care directives, and beneficiary designations. Unlike a trust, which can own assets directly and avoid probate, a power of attorney does not transfer ownership but authorizes someone to act for you. A pour-over will coordinates with a trust to move assets into the trust at death. Understanding how each tool functions together is important to ensure comprehensive coverage for incapacity and end-of-life transitions. A coordinated plan reduces gaps and helps families avoid reactive legal procedures when they occur.
A limited Financial Power of Attorney is often sufficient when your need is short-term or task-specific, such as closing a real estate transaction, signing documents while traveling, or authorizing an accountant to file taxes. Limiting the scope to the particular matter reduces exposure and keeps broader financial control under your direct supervision. It is useful when you have confidence that you will resume control soon and do not want to grant ongoing authority. Properly tailored instructions and a clear termination date help third parties accept the document and minimize misunderstanding.
When duties are narrow and clearly definable, a limited document prevents unnecessary powers from being conferred, such as granting authority only to handle a specific account or to execute a single contract. This approach helps maintain stronger oversight while still allowing trusted people to act when needed. Clear written guidance and documentation of the transaction provide accountability and make financial institutions more comfortable accepting the agent’s authority. If circumstances change, the document can be replaced with a broader instrument to reflect evolving needs and relationships.
Comprehensive planning becomes necessary when you are creating a cohesive set of documents that must operate together without conflict. A Financial Power of Attorney should align with a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, advance health care directives, and beneficiary designations. Coordinating language, successor naming, and policies for third-party acceptance reduces confusion and the likelihood of competing claims. A full review helps identify gaps, such as assets titled in an individual’s name that should be moved or beneficiary designations that require updating to reflect current intentions.
Complex family structures, blended families, business interests, or significant retirement assets often call for a comprehensive approach. In those cases a single document is insufficient because asset management, tax consequences, and succession questions affect multiple legal areas. A unified plan clarifies decision-making authority and provides structured guidance for an agent while protecting the principal’s long-term goals. Proper coordination can reduce disputes, guard against unintended transfers, and ensure the agent has the necessary authority to act consistently across accounts and institutions.
A coordinated planning approach brings clarity to the roles of agents, trustees, and beneficiaries while reducing administrative friction at crucial times. When Financial Powers of Attorney are written to complement trusts, wills, and healthcare directives, families benefit from more efficient access to funds, streamlined asset transfers, and predictable decision-making. Coordination also lowers the chance of court involvement and the delays that come with conservatorship proceedings. Overall, a cohesive plan makes it easier for a designated person to act swiftly and appropriately on your behalf when circumstances require it.
Coordination reduces conflicting instructions among documents and clarifies which instruments control in different situations. This helps banks and retirement plan administrators accept a designated agent’s authority without unnecessary demands for additional proof. Additionally, planning in advance allows you to tailor safeguards such as accounting requirements, reporting intervals, or successor agent choices, offering peace of mind to principals and family members alike. The result is a practical, predictable framework that protects your financial interests while honoring your preferences for management and distribution.
One key benefit of a comprehensive plan is continuity: designated agents can manage bills, investments, and payroll without interruption. This continuity helps avoid missed mortgage or loan payments that could harm credit, prevents lapses in insurance coverage, and ensures retirement distributions are handled timely. By providing clear documentation to financial institutions and naming successor agents, a principal preserves the ability to address urgent financial matters reliably. The stability afforded by coordinated planning reduces stress for families during a difficult time and keeps daily affairs running smoothly.
A cohesive estate plan protects your intentions by giving clear authority to the right person under specified conditions. This clarity minimizes the potential for disputes among family members and helps financial institutions accept the designated agent’s decisions without unnecessary delay. When a Financial Power of Attorney is integrated with trusts and wills, responsibilities are distributed according to a single plan. Clear statutory language and documented guidance reduce misunderstandings and provide both legal and practical protection for the principal’s assets and wishes.
Selecting the right agent and successor agents is one of the most important decisions you will make when drafting a Financial Power of Attorney. Consider reliability, proximity, comfort with financial matters, and the person’s ability to communicate with banks and advisors. Discuss expectations in advance and provide written instructions about preferred handling of day-to-day matters and recordkeeping. Naming successor agents ensures continuity if the primary agent cannot serve. Providing certified copies to financial institutions and keeping originals accessible reduces delays when the document must be used.
To reduce confusion, provide your agent with concise written guidance and a list of key accounts, account numbers, and contact persons at banks or investment firms. Keep notarized copies of the Financial Power of Attorney where they can be easily accessed, and provide copies to your agent, successor agents, and trusted family members. Inform relevant institutions in advance whenever possible so they are familiar with the agent’s role. Clear documentation and communication speed transactions and lower the risk of disputes or refusal by third parties.
You should consider creating a Financial Power of Attorney if you own assets that require ongoing management, if you travel frequently, or if you anticipate a period when you may be unavailable or incapacitated. This includes owning property, maintaining bank and retirement accounts, or overseeing a business. A properly drafted document allows a designated person to manage these matters promptly. Early planning helps you choose an agent you trust, set limitations or reporting requirements, and coordinate other estate planning documents to match your overall goals and family circumstances.
Consider updating or creating a Financial Power of Attorney after major life events such as marriage, divorce, having children, acquiring or selling significant assets, or a change in health. These events often change who you want to handle financial decisions and how those decisions should be made. Periodic review ensures successor agents are current, limitations remain appropriate, and the document aligns with changes to beneficiary designations and trust provisions. Updating documents proactively avoids misunderstandings and helps institutions accept the agent’s authority when the need arises.
Common circumstances include temporary incapacity, planned surgeries, long-term health changes, travel outside the country, management of rental or business income, and emergency situations where quick financial decisions are necessary. Families also use these documents to make eldercare transitions smoother and to ensure that benefits, taxes, and recurring obligations are handled without interruption. In many cases, coordinating with retirement plan custodians and health care documents reduces administrative burdens and allows families to focus on care and communication rather than urgent legal hurdles.
When a principal becomes incapacitated due to illness or injury, a Financial Power of Attorney provides a legal channel for the appointed agent to manage financial matters without court involvement. This helps avoid the need for a conservatorship and speeds critical actions such as paying bills, managing investments, and maintaining mortgage or insurance payments. Clear documentation of agent authority and guidance on discretionary powers reduces family stress and ensures that important financial matters are handled promptly in accordance with the principal’s prior wishes.
Extended travel or temporary residence abroad often makes it difficult for an individual to manage routine financial tasks, sign documents, or respond to urgent notices. A Financial Power of Attorney allows a named agent to access accounts, sign transaction documents, and work with institutions on your behalf. This avoids missed payments, frozen accounts, or unnecessary legal complications. Providing a clear, notarized document and notifying relevant institutions in advance helps ensure the agent’s authority is accepted while you are away.
Owners of rental properties, family businesses, or complex investment portfolios frequently rely on a Financial Power of Attorney to allow trusted people to manage properties, sign leases, collect rents, and handle business transactions. This tool is particularly useful when owners cannot be present for negotiations or need someone to act quickly on opportunities or emergencies. Well-defined authority and reporting expectations help preserve business continuity and ensure that agents act within the intended boundaries for financial stewardship on behalf of the principal.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides focused assistance to Rancho Mirage and nearby communities for creating and updating Financial Powers of Attorney and related estate planning documents. We assist clients in evaluating which powers to grant, naming appropriate successors, and coordinating documents with revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, health care directives, and beneficiary provisions. Our approach emphasizes clarity, practical handling of third-party acceptance, and ensuring that documents function effectively with banks, retirement plan administrators, and other institutions to minimize delay and confusion when you or a loved one needs someone to act.
Our practice focuses on creating durable and practical planning documents that reflect client values and anticipate real-world transactions. We work closely with each client to identify which powers are needed, how to draft limitations where appropriate, and how to name successor agents to maintain continuity. For Rancho Mirage residents, we understand the local banking and institutional practices and prepare documents to meet commonly requested formalities so they will be accepted by the entities you deal with most frequently.
We also emphasize communication and documentation. Clients receive clear written instructions, lists of recommended distribution points for certified copies, and guidance on what to expect when presenting the document to financial institutions or retirement plan custodians. We help coordinate Financial Powers of Attorney with other estate planning elements such as trusts, pour-over wills, and health care directives to create a unified plan that covers both incapacity and death. This reduces the risk of conflicts and promotes smooth transitions when decisions must be made.
Finally, our office assists with practical follow-up steps, including notarization, safe storage options, and providing copies to agents and institutions. We make recommendations for periodic review and updating after major life events and can advise on successor agent naming and termination clauses. This hands-on assistance helps ensure your Financial Power of Attorney performs as intended and that those you rely on are prepared with the documentation and instructions they need to act efficiently and responsibly on your behalf.
Our process begins with a consultation to understand your assets, goals, family dynamics, and any special concerns about decision-making authority. We then recommend the form of power of attorney that fits your needs, draft the document with tailored language and limitations as requested, and arrange for proper execution under California law, including notary or witness requirements. We guide clients through distributing certified copies to institutions, naming successor agents, and coordinating the document with trusts, wills, and healthcare directives. Ongoing review ensures documents remain current with your life circumstances.
During the initial review we gather information about your accounts, real property, business interests, and any existing estate planning documents. We discuss who you trust to serve as an agent, the scope of authority you wish to grant, and any limitations or reporting preferences you want included. This conversation helps identify potential conflicts between documents and clarifies whether a durable, limited, or springing power is most appropriate. We provide practical advice on naming successor agents and coordinating the power with related legal instruments.
We review the types of accounts and assets you hold, including bank accounts, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, business interests, and real property. This assessment guides which powers are necessary and helps determine whether certain assets should be retitled or beneficiary forms updated. We also evaluate whether specific limitations or instructions are needed for the agent to follow. Documenting key contacts and account details at this stage reduces friction later when the agent must act promptly on your behalf.
We help you decide between durable, limited, and springing forms and identify appropriate successor agents. This includes discussing how to word the document to minimize disputes and ensure acceptance by financial institutions. We also recommend procedures for providing certified copies to banks, retirement plan administrators, and trusted advisors and discuss how to revoke or update the document as circumstances change. Clear successor naming ensures continuity if a primary agent cannot serve.
In the drafting phase we prepare the Financial Power of Attorney with language tailored to your objectives, describing the specific powers granted, any limitations, and conditions for effectiveness. We ensure the document includes required formalities under California law and incorporate directions for successor agents and recordkeeping. Once finalized, we arrange for proper signing and notarization as necessary, provide instructions on distributing certified copies, and recommend secure storage practices so the document is available when needed without compromising safety.
Precise document language reduces ambiguity and increases the likelihood financial institutions will accept the agent’s authority. We draft clear powers, specify duration and triggering events, and include any required reporting or accounting provisions. When desired, we add customized clauses to address unique family dynamics or business needs. Clear structure and consistent terminology across all estate planning documents help third parties understand the scope of the agent’s authority and facilitate quicker acceptance when the agent presents the document.
After signing and completing any notarial or witness steps, we recommend distributing certified copies to key financial institutions, retirement plan custodians, and designated advisors. We can prepare a checklist of whom to notify and what to provide to ensure the agent encounters minimal resistance. We also advise about keeping the original document in a secure but accessible location and updating institutions when successor agents change. Thoughtful distribution and recordkeeping help ensure the agent can step in effectively when necessary.
Following execution, we follow up to confirm that the institutions accept the document and to address any questions that arise. Periodic reviews are recommended after life changes such as marriage, divorce, new children, or significant asset shifts. We assist with amendments or revocations when circumstances change and provide guidance on coordinating the Financial Power of Attorney with trust modifications, wills, or beneficiary updates. These follow-up steps protect the principal’s goals and ensure smooth transitions if an agent must act.
We help clients confirm acceptance of the Financial Power of Attorney by banks, investment firms, and retirement plan administrators, addressing any institution-specific requirements. This can include providing notarized copies, completing bank forms, or communicating directly with account officers when necessary. Early confirmation prevents surprises and ensures the agent will be able to manage accounts when called upon. Knowing in advance what each third party requires reduces stress and avoids unnecessary delays during an already sensitive time.
Life changes and legal developments can make it important to review and amend Financial Powers of Attorney over time. We recommend regular reviews to ensure the named agents remain suitable, successor designations are current, and authority aligns with asset changes and family circumstances. If an amendment or revocation is needed, we guide the principal through the correct legal steps to ensure the change is effective and properly communicated to institutions and relevant parties. Periodic attention preserves the document’s functionality and relevance.
A Financial Power of Attorney can grant a broad or narrow set of authorities depending on your needs and preferences. Common powers include paying bills, managing bank accounts, handling investment transactions, dealing with retirement plan administrators, filing or responding to tax matters, managing real estate transactions, and accessing safe deposit boxes. You can draft the document to allow comprehensive management of financial affairs or to limit the agent to specific tasks and durations. Clear language, including any restrictions or required reporting, reduces ambiguity and helps third parties understand the agent’s authority. When deciding what powers to grant, consider daily financial needs, anticipated long-term matters, and potential emergencies. Think about whether you want the authority to be immediate, springing upon incapacity, or limited to a particular event or time frame. Naming successor agents provides continuity if the primary agent becomes unable to serve. Providing written guidance and account lists further clarifies expectations and streamlines interactions with financial institutions when the agent must act.
A durable Financial Power of Attorney is effective immediately and continues even if the principal becomes incapacitated, whereas a springing power becomes effective only upon a specified triggering event, most commonly a determination of incapacity. The durable form is often preferred for continuity because it avoids the administrative and evidentiary hurdles that can arise when third parties request proof that the triggering event has occurred. Durable documents allow timely action to protect assets and pay bills without court involvement. Springing documents can appeal to principals who wish to limit authority until incapacity occurs, but they can create practical challenges. Financial institutions may require formal medical or legal certification before accepting a springing power, which can delay access to funds. When a springing power is chosen, careful drafting that specifies the triggering criteria and coordination with trusted advisors can reduce potential obstacles and help ensure smoother implementation.
Choose an agent who is trustworthy, available, and comfortable managing financial matters, and discuss expectations before appointing them. Consider practical qualities such as proximity to Rancho Mirage, the ability to communicate with financial institutions, and willingness to keep records. Name one primary agent and one or more successor agents so there is continuity if the primary cannot serve. Also consider whether to designate co-agents who must act jointly, remembering that joint decision-making can slow action if consensus is required. Be explicit in the document about any limitations, reporting requirements, or preferences for how the agent should handle assets. Providing a written list of accounts, contact information for advisers, and instructions about recurring payments helps the agent act promptly. These steps reduce the chance of disputes and streamline interactions with banks and retirement plan custodians when the agent needs to present the document.
Most banks and retirement plan administrators accept properly executed Financial Powers of Attorney if the document meets statutory formalities and includes required notarization or witness statements. Acceptance standards vary among institutions, and some may ask for additional forms or verification. It is helpful to prepare certified copies and to notify key institutions in advance so they know what to expect. Gathering supporting identification and account documentation reduces the likelihood of refusal when the agent presents the power. When dealing with institutions, clear drafting and consistent terminology increase acceptance. If an institution questions the document, our office can often communicate directly with account officers to explain the authority granted and provide supplemental documentation. Early coordination with institutions helps ensure smoother transitions when the agent must act on your behalf.
Yes, you can limit the agent’s authority and include requirements for accounting or reporting. A Financial Power of Attorney can specify which powers are granted, set time limits, exclude certain assets, or require periodic written accounting to a named person. These measures provide oversight and reassurance while still enabling an agent to handle essential matters. Drafting limitations carefully ensures they are enforceable and avoids ambiguity that might lead institutions to refuse the document. Accounting requirements and limitations should be balanced with practical needs, because overly restrictive provisions may hinder the agent’s ability to respond quickly to urgent matters. Clear instructions about which actions require prior approval and which may be taken at the agent’s discretion help strike that balance. Including successor agents also reduces the chance that overly narrow restrictions will undermine the plan’s effectiveness.
A Financial Power of Attorney does not transfer ownership of assets to another person but authorizes an agent to manage assets you own. A revocable living trust, by contrast, can hold title to assets directly and avoid probate at death. Coordinating the power of attorney with a trust is important because the trust may control assets that are transferred into it, while the power of attorney can address assets still held in your individual name. Ensuring consistent language and successor designations across documents reduces conflicts and administrative complexity. For assets not titled in the trust, a Financial Power of Attorney allows an agent to manage them during your lifetime. If you intend for assets to be placed into a trust, combining the two documents and planning transfers in advance streamlines the transition. Periodic review ensures that account titles and beneficiary designations align with the trust to achieve your intended outcomes.
You should update or revoke a Financial Power of Attorney after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, the death of a named agent, changes in health, or significant shifts in your assets. Changes in relationships or location may mean the previously named agent is no longer the best choice, and updating documents prevents unintended authority. A formal revocation, properly delivered to prior agents and institutions, is essential to avoid confusion. Regular review every few years is recommended even without major events to confirm that authorized powers are still appropriate and that successor agents remain suitable. If you need to revoke the document, it should be done in writing, and key institutions should be notified with the revocation and replacement documents provided. This proactive approach prevents mismatches between your current wishes and older instruments.
If you do not have a Financial Power of Attorney and become incapacitated, your family may need to petition the court to appoint a conservator to manage your financial affairs. This court-supervised process can be time-consuming, costly, and public, and it often provides less flexibility than a private arrangement you would have chosen in advance. A conservatorship can also create tensions among family members and take resources away from the principal’s care and financial needs. Creating a Financial Power of Attorney in advance offers a private, efficient alternative that allows a trusted person to act immediately when needed. Planning ahead reduces the risk of court intervention and gives you greater control over who will manage your finances and how decisions will be made on your behalf.
You can include instructions for handling digital assets and online accounts in a Financial Power of Attorney by specifying authority to access, manage, and close online accounts and to work with digital service providers. It is helpful to provide a separate, secure inventory of usernames, passwords, and account recovery options and to include language that directs the agent to follow any terms of service for those accounts. Clear instructions reduce obstacles when trying to access important digital accounts for bill payment or communication purposes. Because service provider rules vary, including explicit authorization in your power of attorney and coordinating with password managers or other secure repositories helps the agent demonstrate authority. Updating this information as accounts change and providing guidance about privacy and data handling helps preserve your preferences and makes it easier for the agent to act confidently on your behalf.
To help ensure an agent follows your wishes, include written guidance and clear instructions within the Financial Power of Attorney or in a separate memorandum. Specify decision-making preferences for investments, payment priorities, charitable giving, and other financial matters. Requiring periodic accounting and naming a monitoring person to receive reports can provide additional oversight. Communication with your agent and family members ahead of time also reduces misunderstandings and aligns expectations. Naming trustworthy successors and providing access to your advisors, account lists, and related estate planning documents further supports faithful decision-making. While an agent has a duty to act in your best interests, documenting your preferences and creating practical reporting steps reinforces accountability and helps agents make choices consistent with your values and intentions.
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