Power of Attorney in Denver, Colorado

Estate Planning That Accounts for Your Family’s Full Picture

A power of attorney is a legal document in which you (the principal) grant another person (the agent, sometimes called attorney-in-fact) authority to make decisions on your behalf. Without one, a sudden illness or accident can force your family into a Colorado court proceeding to appoint a guardian or conservator before a spouse or adult child can access bank accounts, pay bills, or direct your medical care. At Frost & Beck, PC, we draft power of attorney documents for clients throughout the Denver Metro and Boulder areas as part of a complete estate planning practice.

Because we handle both estate planning and family law, we think carefully about how divorce, remarriage, blended families, and child custody arrangements intersect with who should hold authority over your finances and healthcare. Founding attorneys Christelle C. Beck and Leslie A. Frost work directly with each client from start to finish. You’ll work with your attorney, not through support staff acting as your primary point of contact.

To discuss your power of attorney needs in a confidential consultation, call Frost & Beck, PC at (720) 330-4623.

Types of Power of Attorney Under Colorado Law

Colorado recognizes several distinct forms, and choosing the right one depends on your circumstances and goals.

Financial Power of Attorney
Authorizes the agent to handle banking, investments, real estate transactions, bill payment, and tax filing on the principal’s behalf.

Medical Power of Attorney
Also called a healthcare proxy, this document allows the agent to consult with physicians, make treatment decisions, and direct care when the principal can’t communicate. It works alongside an advance directive or living will but serves a different function.

Durable Power of Attorney
Remains valid even if the principal becomes incapacitated. A non-durable power of attorney, by contrast, terminates the moment the principal loses mental capacity, which is often precisely when the document is needed most.

Limited Power of Attorney
Restricts the agent to a specific transaction or defined time period, such as a single real estate closing completed while the principal is out of the country.

Springing Power of Attorney
Takes effect only upon a specified triggering event, typically a written determination of incapacity by a physician or licensed psychologist. Colorado requires the principal to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind at signing. Notarization isn’t strictly required for validity under Colorado law, but it’s strongly recommended: banks and financial institutions often decline documents that haven’t been acknowledged before a notary, and a notarized signature carries a statutory presumption of genuineness.

Why Denver Families Work with Frost & Beck, PC

Colorado-specific drafting matters. A document valid in another state may be unenforceable here, and Colorado financial institutions frequently reject generic online forms that lack proper statutory language. Our attorneys understand the Colorado Uniform Power of Attorney Act and the state requirements that govern a valid power of attorney, including the “Hot Powers” provisions discussed in the expanded section below.

Because we also handle divorce and family law, we’re familiar with the real-world situations that can make a standard form inadequate. Under Colorado law, a spouse named as agent generally loses that authority automatically once a divorce action is filed, but that protection disappears if the document expressly states otherwise, and it does nothing to address other agents who may no longer be the right choice after a family transition. A blended family may call for separate agents on financial and medical decisions. These aren’t hypothetical concerns; they come up regularly in our practice.

Frost & Beck, PC has been recognized by Super Lawyers every year from 2015 through 2024 and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Leslie A. Frost also served as Adjunct Professor of International Law at the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver, a background that adds depth to the firm’s legal reasoning across complex planning matters.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

Getting a power of attorney in place is straightforward when you work with attorneys who understand both the document and your family’s broader legal picture. We serve clients throughout the Denver Metro, Boulder, and Centennial areas and welcome the opportunity to help you get this foundational piece of your estate plan in order.

Call Frost & Beck, PC at (720) 330-4623 to schedule your confidential consultation.