A few weeks ago, I found myself trying to help my step-niece file a life insurance claim after the sudden death of her mother—my step-sister. It was an emotionally heavy situation, and I offered to help with the practical side of things: finding out what paperwork was needed, getting the right forms, and navigating the insurance company’s process.
But the moment I called the insurer, I hit a wall. They wouldn’t give me any information. Not the status of the policy. Not the claim process. Not even the name of the person handling it.
Why? I didn’t have a Power of Attorney (POA).
To make matters more complicated, my step-sister was a German citizen. Her children—the beneficiaries—are also German citizens, trying to deal with an American insurance company from overseas. Even though they wanted me to help, I had no legal authority to act on their behalf.
That’s when it really hit me: Powers of Attorney aren’t just for the elderly or for people at the end of life. They’re for anyone who might need help navigating complicated systems, from financial institutions to government agencies to medical providers. And in our increasingly mobile, cross-border, digital world, that’s just about all of us.
Let’s dig into what a POA is, what types are available, how they’re used—and what their limits are—so you don’t find yourself stuck when someone needs you the most.