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Power of Attorney

Four Types of Power of Attorney in Florida and What They Mean

Familiarizing yourself with the functions of a power of attorney can help you prepare for the future. An individual who has power of attorney over another can make decisions about that person’s finances, estate, and healthcare. Power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney is used when an individual is incapacitated and unable to make decisions independently. Below, we will discuss the different types of power of attorneys (POA) and when would be the best circumstances to use them.

1.          Durable Power of Attorney

This type of power of attorney is the most common. An individual will be assigned as an agent to oversee various financial and medical decisions for the incapacitated person. This decision can be of any person they choose. It will remain in effect until the person holding the POA revokes it(executing a revocation of power of attorney) or it reaches the expiration date included upon signing the document. The person choosing their POA agent must do so with utmost trust, as they have signed over their rights to legal and medical decisions. 

2. Special or Limited Power of Attorney

If you need an agent to act as your POA, but only for a limited time or for specific purposes, then you will need a special or limited power of attorney. In the agreement for power of attorney, you will want to specify what powers you want to grant your agent and what decisions they should make on your behalf. If you’re unsure of what to include, contact your estate planning attorney for a consultation. 

3. Healthcare or Medical Power of Attorney

Healthcare or medical POA is a type of power of attorney where you authorize a trusted agent the ability to make medical treatment decisions (specifically) on your behalf. There might be a situation where you cannot communicate your wishes. You will want a trusted agent to carry out your predetermined decisions. This type of POA can be set up while building your estate plan and drafting your Advanced Directives. Having your medical wishes in writing can reduce the worry and stress on your family during an already stressful event. 

4. Florida Real Estate Power of Attorney

A Florida real estate power of attorney is a limited POA. It can grant an agent authorization to handle your affairs regarding entering real estate contracts or buying or selling real estate. The best time to explore your medical, legal, and financial estate planning options is when you are healthy. Contact a trusted estate planning attorney at The Boutty Law firm to assist you with your estate planning journey. 

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Home protection against hurricane damages

How to Dispute Insurance Coverage after Hurricane Damages

Hurricane Damages and Insurance Coverage

  During the months of June through November, we are immersed in a media blitz about storms and damages.  The State of Florida, which is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, has a coastline of 8,436 miles, all of which are at high risk during a hurricane. Even those that don’t live on the coastline suffer heavy wind and water damages.  The report of a tropical storm or a hurricane brewing brings heightened anxiety levels and there can be immeasurable emotional wreckage following the storm. The history of hurricanes, such as hurricane Irma, hurricane Michael and the recent hurricane Dorian, caused devastating damages, for which there is major economic loss that may never be recovered. 

   The standard preparation for responsible homeowners and business owners, when a storm is approaching, is to do their best to secure loose items and trim or remove weak tree branches, especially around electric lines.  Creating a home inventory and reviewing your insurance coverage is imperative, if you need to claim damages.  Taking photos of your property prior to the storm, will adequately document the condition of your possessions.  When torrential rain, high tides or wind causes significant damages to your property, the results can be devastating.  Property owners are left to deal with roof and shingle damages, broken windows, flooding, moisture damages, destroyed porches, fallen trees and destruction of boats and other property.  Homes can be completely destroyed and become inhabitable.

   Insurance policies give us a false sense of security but insurance companies have an incentive to pay out as little as possible.  Your insurance policy is a contract between the insurer and the policyholder, in exchange for premiums.  This document determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay.  Following an event, an insurance adjuster will write a report of his subjective assessment of the damages.  This can result in a low estimate or a denial of the claim in total.  Some reasons that an insurance company will deny a claim or they may not pay for the damages in their entirety can be; policy exclusions, a missed payment can lapse your policy, coverage limit is reached but it’s not enough to cover damages, no documentation of damages, flood insurance needs to be a separate policy and/or pre-existing damage,   

   In addition to legitimate disputes between property owners and insurance companies, there are also a large number of questionable claims that need to be investigated and oftentimes, litigated in a civil court of law. While trying to deal with the trauma of your losses, insurance companies and property owners need to be aware of unscrupulous contractors that exploit customers during the confusion of a disaster.  Be wary of Assignment of Benefits fraud, which happens when you sign a deal that gives your contractor the right to bill your insurance company directly.

   The Boutty law firm will look out for your best interest and advocate on your behalf in a breach of contract dispute. You may be the property owner that feels your insurance company is unlawfully refusing to pay or you may be the insurance company that is disputing what appears to be a fraudulent claim. Or perhaps it is necessary to file for civil litigation regarding an untrustworthy contractor.  To learn more about how we can help you during this stressful time, schedule an appointment to discuss the details of your case.

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