There are several different types of Power of Attorney (POA), for example the Living Will part of this website has talked about a POA with permissions to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. It is also important to have a POA who can have power over legal and financial matters. This includes signing checks, signing official documents, or handling other legal issues. Specifically for estate planning you want a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) who can act on your behalf if you are incapacitated, incompetent, or otherwise not able to handle your affairs. In legal speak, this person will be your agent.
Power of Attorney paperwork is free, and there are several online resources for this including Rocket Lawyer and Tomorrow. The process is a simple matter of filling out the paperwork, printing a copy, and having it signed and notarized. Notary services are available at many locations – a common location is your local UPS Store.
Be Prepared Seattle 