• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

East Brunswick Estate Planning Attorneys

Attend a Free Seminar 732-238-6000
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorneys and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Mercer County
      • Monmouth County
        • Freehold Township
      • Middlesex County
        • East Brunswick
        • Edison
        • Monroe Township
        • Old Bridge Township
      • Ocean County
        • Jackson Township
        • Lakewood
    • Founding Attorneys
    • Multimedia
    • News & Events
    • Our Services
    • Speaker Connection
  • how we can help
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Wealth Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Loss of a Loved One
    • Special Needs Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Trust Administration & Probate
  • elder law
    • Caregiver Guidance
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Seminars
  • RESOURCES
    • DocuBank
    • Educational-Alerts
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Estate Planning Articles
      • The Importance of Retirement Planning
      • Reasons to Create a Living Trust
      • What to Include in Your Will
    • Estate Administration Consult Form
    • Newsletters
    • Pre-Consultation Form
    • Reports
    • Special Needs Resources
    • Trust Administration And Probate Resources
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Home » Blog » The Power of Attorney — Things You Need to Know to Protect Elderly Loved Ones

The Power of Attorney — Things You Need to Know to Protect Elderly Loved Ones

May 3, 2012 by Roger Levine, Estate Planning Attorney

At its most basic, a power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the legal authority to act on your behalf. A POA is a fairly commonly used legal tool and when used correctly, a very effective legal tool. If you have an elderly loved one, be sure to educate yourself and your loved one about the proper use of a POA as well as the risks associated with giving someone POA. Sadly, elderly Americans are abused and taken advantage of in record numbers in the United States and a POA is often a “weapon” of choice for those who wish to commit fraud, or outright theft, from an elderly victim.

People tend to think of abuse and neglect of the elderly as limited to physical or mental abuse. In fact, financial abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse. If you have an elderly loved one who requires care from someone outside the family, the risk of abuse is always present. Unfortunately, abuse can even occur within the family. Gaining control over an elderly victim’s finances can be done rather easily with the POA.

A POA can be very specific or can be very broad. A specific POA, for instance, may give someone the authority to complete the sale of a car on your behalf. A broad POA, however, basically opens up the flood gates to all of your assets and accounts. If someone convinces your elderly loved one to sign a broad POA, the perpetrator could clean out his or her accounts in record time. A broad POA is rarely needed, especially by someone who is not family. Be sure you talk to your loved one about POAs and encourage him or her to notify you immediately if anyone broaches the subject.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Roger Levine, Estate Planning Attorney
Roger Levine, Estate Planning Attorney
Roger N. Levine is a co-founder of the East Brunswick, New Jersey law firm of Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC.
Roger Levine, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Roger Levine, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Benefits of Choosing a Nursing Home in Advance - July 5, 2022
  • You Say You Don’t Need An Estate Plan? - June 24, 2022
  • Estate Planning: Have You Provided For Your Pet? - June 20, 2022

Primary Sidebar

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

WHERE WE ARE

East Brunswick (Main Office)
F-3 Brier Hill Ct.
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: (732) 238-6000
Fax: (732) 238-6055

MAP

Map

SATELLITE OFFICE

Jackson (Satellite Office)
19 N County Line Road Suite 3
Jackson, NJ 08527
Phone: (732) 238-6000
Fax: (732) 238-6055

OFFICE HOURS

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC

East Brunswick (Main Office)
F-3 Brier Hill Ct.
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Phone: (732) 238-6000
Fax: (732) 238-6055

Map/Location

Map

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Jackson (Satellite Office)

19 N County Line Road Suite 3
Jackson, NJ 08527
Phone: (732) 238-6000
Fax: (732) 238-6055
Map

Office Hours

Monday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated
pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This
information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
© 2023 Levine, Furman & Rubin, LLC. All Rights Reserved.