Many of our clients may be planning escapes to warmer climates.
But if a client becomes incapable (temporarily or permanently) of
making personal care decisions while travelling outside their home
province or country, or of making financial decisions about their
foreign assets, would the proper documents be in place to allow
someone else to act on their behalf in that jurisdiction?
While multiple will planning is a familiar strategy to deal with
foreign assets on death, preparing multiple powers of attorney for
use in jurisdictions where clients spend time and hold assets is
less common.
Clients may be surprised to learn that few international
jurisdictions will automatically recognize and accept a POA that
was prepared elsewhere. Many jurisdictions do not even have POAs
that survive incapacity.
