Power of Attorney... or as all the Army says: POA. For those of you who have yet to take the journey down POA Lane there is not just one Power that will cover everything you need to do in your daily life, oh no! That would make life too easy for us Army Wives! There are DOZENs of different Powers of Attorney! During a deployment year you will need every single one, including the one that allows you to buy a boat in his name.
Why do we need so many? Why can't we just put everything in our name and transfer over later? Because the Government will give us discounts for him being in the Military (to compensate for the lack of pay) when it comes to buying a home, or registering a car... But the "Service Member" (the one in the Military) must be listed on the title or deed! There are numerous reasons why you would want both of your names on a home rental agreement or car loan; but in order to do so you must have a ... POA!!
I recommend to everyone that they get every possible Power of Attorney that exsists. A General covers very little... You need a Special POA for:
- Taxes (To file them in his name or if you file jointly, because you have to file taxes every year)
- To Register your Vehicle
- To get the JAG (in some states) form to get state tax exempt on your Vehicle.
- Your Bank or Credit Card might require something different
- To rent/buy a house
- To get a Military ID
- To get a loan in his name
If you have children you will also need to fill out a temporary POA to whomever is going to watch them should something happen to you.
Essentially, I would recommend getting every POA possible. It is better to have them and never use them than not have the one you need in a desperate situation.
**A reminder: Only the Soldier can fill out a Power of Attorney. Never the Spouse!**
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