Since 1971, Nolo's goal has been simple: Make America's legal system accessible to everyone. Our website, books, software, online legal forms and lawyer directory help millions of individuals, businesses and nonprofits solve their legal problems each year.
How can I get a power of attorney if my mother is mentally incapacitated?
To make a valid power of attorney document, your mother would need the mental ability to fully understand what the document is and what it does -- and to consent to giving you power of attorney. If she's already mentally incapacitated, it's too late for her to agree to allow you to handle her affairs.
But there is another way to get this authority. You can go to court and ask a judge to appoint you as your mother's conservator (called a guardian in some states). Start with the clerk's office at the county probate court; they can most likely give you information on how to initiate conservatorship proceedings. For more information, see Conservatorships and Guardianships.
Nolo posts updates to the latest versions of books and software when major legal or practical changes occur. To see if your product has had a recent update, search for that book or software and visit its product page.
