Recently, the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, or UPOAA, passed in Georgia. This act, which becomes effective beginning July 1, 2017, amends the previous law regarding powers of attorney (POAs). The passage of UPOAA in Georgia is a significant step toward protecting elderly or disabled people because it clears up confusing aspects of the previous statutory scheme governing POAs and provides for additional safeguards against elder abuse and financial exploitation by their agents. The Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association called uniform power of attorney laws “crucial to people with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.” UPOAA not only adds protections for principals- it provides common sense protections for agents and third parties, as well. POAs allow an agent to enter important financial transactions on behalf of a principal, such as buying and selling real estate, opening and closing accounts and paying bills. UPOAA adds protections to prevent an agent from abusing such powers. Prior to UPOAA passage, agents were subject to less harsh penalties and often were never held responsible for their misuse of their power. Sometimes, agents would be charged criminally, and may have been subject to a criminal restitution order, but prosecutors rarely pursued such cases because the amounts taken… [Read More]