Massachusetts doesn’t regulate powers of attorney — a signed, notarized letter of appointment is the only requirement — and advocates for the elderly say the absence of oversight makes it too easy for an unscrupulous person to exploit the position for personal gain. Secretary of State William Galvin aims to remedy the problem with a proposal he submitted to the Massachusetts legislature earlier this year that would bar people with power of attorney from enriching themselves or otherwise abusing their authority.

Source/more information: Boston Globe (June 25, 2011)

The Beliveau Law Group: Massachusetts | Florida | New Hampshire

The attorneys at The Beliveau Law Group provides legal services for estate planning (wills and trusts), Medicaid (planning and applications), probate (estate and trust administration), business law (formation and operation), real estate (residential and commercial), taxation (federal and state), and civil litigation (in connection with these practice areas). The law firm has offices and attorneys in Naples, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Danvers, Massachusetts; Waltham, Massachusetts; Quincy, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire and Salem, New Hampshire.