Q. When I signed my Power Of Attorney a few years back, my primary and successor agents lived at different addresses and had different phone numbers than they do now. In order for it to remain valid, do I need to completely re-do it?
A. I do receive this question from clients from time to time, so know that you are not alone in wondering. The short answer is: no, you do not need to completely re-execute your Power of Attorney (“POA”). What I suggest you do is type up their current addresses and phone numbers on a separate sheet of paper, date and sign it, and attach it to your original POA and to all copies as well. Although not required, it might also be a good idea to have your signature notarized, just to lend a further auro of reliability to the document. You might also include their current email addresses, as many folks now rely heavily upon email. Call the document something like” “Updated Contact Information for My Agents & Successors”. Do the same with regard to your Advance Healthcare Directive and any other estate planning document which recites the former addresses of your agents or successors.
If you, yourself, have also moved, include your new address, phone and email as well, so that the contact information will be complete.
However, if you have moved to another state, then I would advise seeing an attorney in that new state and arrange for that attorney to prepare a new POA for you in compliance with the laws of that state. I would advise the same with regard to your Advance Healthcare Directive and any other estate planning documents prepared while you were a resident of California, such as a Trust and Will. That way you will remain in full compliance with the law applicable to the state of your new domicile. Good wishes.