Power of Attorney Abuse: What States Can Do About It

This PPI research report explores the problem of power of attorney abuse and how state legislatures can protect vulnerable adults. Powers of attorney are legal documents used by individuals to empower someone else to act on their behalf. As the population ages, the power of attorney will be used increasingly to appoint trusted family members or others to handle financial decision-making. But it also can be a ‘license to steal,’ because it grants broad powers with little oversight. The report shows that a large majority of states lack protections against abuse. The Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a model law, lays the groundwork for keeping seniors safe from abuse, while allowing them to plan for the future. (88 pages)