Powers of Attorney, Arizona.
Stacie Robb has drafted durable and healthcare powers of attorney for Wickenburg families for over 25 years.
Serving Wickenburg, Wittmann, Aguila, Salome, and Congress. Call (928) 684-5416.
A Power of Attorney Lets Someone You Trust Act on Your Behalf
McGuire • Robb is a licensed estate planning and family law firm serving Wickenburg, Arizona and the surrounding communities of Wittmann, Aguila, Salome, and Congress. You can reach us at (928) 684-5416 or visit our office at 830 N. Tegner St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390. A power of attorney is a legal document that authorizes a named person, called the agent, to make decisions on behalf of another person, the principal, when the principal cannot act for themselves. This is not only a document for older adults. Anyone can face a sudden medical event, a planned surgery, or an extended absence that creates the need for someone to act on their behalf.
McGuire • Robb drafts four types of powers of attorney. A general power of attorney covers broad financial matters but expires if the principal becomes incapacitated. A durable power of attorney remains in effect even after incapacitation, which is why it is the most common choice for estate planning. A healthcare power of attorney, also called a healthcare proxy, designates someone to make medical decisions when you cannot. A limited power of attorney covers only a specific transaction or time period, and terminates automatically when that purpose is fulfilled.
By the time most people realise they needed a power of attorney, they no longer have the legal capacity to sign one. Once a person is incapacitated, the only path forward is a court-supervised guardianship or conservatorship, a process that takes months, costs far more than drafting a POA now, and removes the family's ability to choose who acts as decision-maker. Acting before a crisis is preparation, not pessimism.
How McGuire • Robb Prepares Your Power of Attorney
The process is straightforward when you work with an attorney who does this every day. Here is exactly what happens from your first call to your final signed document.
1. We Start With a Conversation About Your Situation
We begin with a focused consultation to understand your goals, your family circumstances, and who you want to act on your behalf. This conversation shapes every decision that follows, because there is no generic document and every family is different.
2. We Identify the Right Type of Power of Attorney for You
Based on the consultation, Stacie Robb identifies whether you need a durable, healthcare, general, or limited power of attorney, or a combination. Choosing the wrong type can leave you unprotected in exactly the situation you were trying to plan for.
3. Your Document Is Drafted to Arizona's Legal Standards
Stacie Robb drafts the power of attorney to meet Arizona's specific execution requirements. A document that does not meet those standards may not be honoured by banks, hospitals, or courts when it matters most.
4. You Review Every Provision Before Signing
We walk through the document with you in plain English before anything is signed. If any provision does not reflect your intentions, we adjust it. You leave with complete clarity about what you have signed and what it authorises.
5. The Document Is Witnessed and Notarised Correctly
Arizona law requires specific witnessing and notarisation for a power of attorney to be legally valid. We handle that process at our office, so there is no ambiguity about whether your document will hold up.
6. You Receive Your Signed Documents and Know Where to Keep Them
Once executed, we provide you with original signed copies and guidance on where to keep them so your agent can access them quickly if they are ever needed.
Most powers of attorney appointments take a single consultation and one follow-up signing appointment. We can usually complete the process within a week of your first call.
Without a Power of Attorney, a Court Decides Who Acts for You
If you become incapacitated without a durable power of attorney in place, no one, not your spouse and not your adult children, automatically gains the legal authority to manage your finances or make your medical decisions. Arizona law does not grant that authority by default, even to close family members. The absence of a power of attorney does not simplify the situation. It creates a legal vacuum that requires a court to resolve.
The only path forward is a court-supervised guardianship proceeding for personal and medical decisions, or a conservatorship for financial matters. A family member must petition the court, the court appoints a guardian ad litem to investigate, hearings are scheduled and required, and the full process typically takes several months to complete. The legal costs involved are significantly higher than the cost of drafting a power of attorney in advance. And the court, not the family, has final say over who is appointed to act for your loved one.
The hardest part of a guardianship proceeding is not the cost or the time. It is the loss of control. The person you would have chosen to act for you may not be the person the court appoints. And by the time the proceeding is complete, decisions that needed to be made weeks earlier have already been made by default or delayed past the point of usefulness. A properly drafted power of attorney prevents all of this, and it costs far less than one hour of court time.
Common Questions About Powers of Attorney in Wickenburg
If you have a question that is not answered here, call us at (928) 684-5416 — Stacie Robb answers questions directly, without making you wait for a callback.
What is the difference between a durable power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney in Arizona?
A durable power of attorney covers financial and legal decisions and remains in effect if you become incapacitated. A healthcare power of attorney covers medical decisions only. Most people in Arizona need both documents. They serve different purposes and together provide complete protection if you are ever unable to speak for yourself.
How old do I have to be to sign a power of attorney in Wickenburg, Arizona?
You must be at least 18 years old and have legal capacity, meaning you understand what the document does and are signing voluntarily. Legal capacity, not age, is the key requirement. Signing while you still have capacity is exactly why acting before a health event matters.
Can I revoke a power of attorney after I have signed it?
Yes. As long as you have legal capacity, you can revoke a power of attorney at any time by signing a written revocation and notifying your agent and any institutions that hold a copy of the document. Once incapacitated, revocation is no longer an option, which is why choosing the right agent from the start is critical.
Does a power of attorney give my agent unlimited authority over my finances?
Not necessarily. The scope of authority depends on how the document is drafted. A limited power of attorney can be restricted to specific transactions or time periods. A durable power of attorney can be broad or narrow depending on your instructions. Stacie Robb drafts each document to reflect exactly what you intend, no more and no less.
What happens to my power of attorney when I die?
A power of attorney automatically ends at the moment of death. After that, your will and estate plan, not the power of attorney, govern how your assets are distributed. This is why a complete estate plan typically includes both a power of attorney and a properly drafted will, working together as complementary documents.
Act Before a Crisis Forces the Decision
A power of attorney is one of the most important legal documents you can have, and one of the simplest to put in place when you act early. Stacie Robb has helped Wickenburg families get this right for over 25 years. Our office is open Monday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm, and Friday 9am to 1pm. Call us directly or use the button below to schedule your consultation.
830 N. Tegner St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390 · Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm · Friday 9am–1pm