Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney in Jersey City

Plan So Your Voice Is Heard

When someone becomes too ill or injured to handle finances or make medical decisions, families often find out that they have very little legal authority to help. A clear power of attorney can avoid confusion and court involvement, and it can make a difficult moment easier for everyone involved.

At Lori Cieckiewicz, P.C., we help individuals and families put the right power of attorney documents in place before there is a crisis. Many of our clients are going through divorce, supporting aging parents, or raising children, and they want to be sure that trusted people can step in if needed. We work with clients here in Jersey City and across Hudson County.

Our firm is devoted to family and matrimonial law, and we have been guiding clients through these issues for more than 22 years. That experience, along with our focus on practical, compassionate advice, shapes how we handle every power of attorney. We listen carefully, explain your options, and help you create documents that match your real-life relationships and responsibilities.

Contact our trusted power of attorney lawyer in Jersey City at (201) 561-8441 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Why Choose Our Jersey City Firm

Many people first think about a power of attorney when something changes in their family. You might be separating from a spouse, finalizing a divorce, caring for a parent whose health is declining, or planning for children who depend on you. Because our practice is built around family and matrimonial law, these situations are already at the center of our daily work.

Our attorney is a certified matrimonial law attorney, and our team includes a court-qualified family law mediator and a collaborative law attorney. These credentials matter when a power of attorney is tied to child custody, financial support, or decisions about long-term care. We understand how these issues interact, and we work to keep your planning consistent with any existing court orders from the Family Division of Hudson County Superior Court.

We have handled more than 2,500 divorce cases over the years. This volume of work has shown us many ways that relationships, finances, and parenting arrangements can change. When we help you create or update a power of attorney, we draw on that experience to think ahead about possible future changes, such as remarriage, blended families, or new partners, so your documents remain practical.

Our client base in Jersey City is diverse. Our team speaks English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Urdu, which helps us communicate clearly with older relatives and family members who are more comfortable in a language other than English. We also aim to keep our pricing reasonable and to explain fees clearly at the start, so you can plan with confidence.

Understanding Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to name someone to act on your behalf if you are unable to act for yourself. That person is often called your agent or attorney in fact. Depending on how the document is written, your agent may handle financial matters, healthcare decisions, or both.

Different forms of authority might be appropriate for your situation. Some clients need a durable power of attorney that continues if they become incapacitated. Others want a document that takes effect only if a doctor confirms they cannot make decisions. You might also pair a financial power of attorney with separate paperwork for medical decisions, depending on your goals and New Jersey requirements.

Because we focus on family situations, we see common patterns. A person going through a divorce may want to remove a spouse as an agent and choose a sibling instead. Adult children may be trying to help a parent in Jersey City who can no longer manage bills alone. Parents might want a trusted relative to handle finances for their children if something happens while they are away or hospitalized.

In many cases, a power of attorney is one part of a larger plan that can also include a will or healthcare directive. Our role is to explain how these documents work together, and to help you decide what authority you are comfortable giving and when it should begin. We keep the conversation focused on your daily life, not just on legal terms.

When we discuss your power of attorney, we help you think through key decisions such as:

Who you trust to serve as your primary agent and any backups
Whether you want authority over finances, healthcare, or both
When the authority should start, and whether it should be durable
Any limits you want on gifts, property transfers, or business actions
How your agent should communicate with other family members

Our Process for Creating a Power of Attorney

Taking the first step can feel intimidating, especially if you are already dealing with divorce, a custody case, or a parent’s illness. Our goal is to make the process clear and manageable. We start with a conversation where we learn about your family, your health, or caregiving concerns, and any open matters in the Family Division of Hudson County Superior Court that could affect your planning.

During this meeting, we ask about your relationships, your financial responsibilities, and who you are considering as an agent. Many clients are unsure at first, especially if there are tensions between relatives. Because our attorney is also a mediator, we are comfortable talking through possible conflicts and helping you weigh the strengths and limitations of each potential agent in a calm and practical way.

Once we understand your situation, we outline the types of power of attorney that fit your needs. We explain, in everyday language, what each choice would allow your agent to do. We then draft a document tailored to your instructions. You have the chance to review it and ask questions, and we can adjust the language if something does not feel right to you.

When the document is ready, we guide you through signing in compliance with New Jersey law, which typically includes proper witnessing and notarization. We also talk with you about where to keep the original, who should receive copies, and how to talk with your chosen agent about their role. If you are in the middle of a family law case, we discuss timing so your planning fits with what is happening in court.

To make your first meeting smoother, it helps to gather:

Any existing powers of attorney or estate planning documents
Basic information about your assets and regular financial obligations
Names and contact information for people you might choose as agents
Details about any current family court orders or pending cases
Questions or concerns you want to be sure we address

A power of attorney is not permanent if your life changes. We explain how you can revoke or update your documents later, for example, after a divorce is finalized, a new marriage occurs, or a trusted child becomes an adult. Knowing that you are not locked into today’s decisions can make it easier to move forward now.

Planning Around Family Changes

Family changes are often the reason people reach out to us for guidance. If you are separating from a spouse or are already involved in a divorce in Jersey City, it is common to have an old power of attorney naming your spouse as agent. We review existing documents with you and talk through whether it is time to choose someone else, such as a relative or trusted friend.

Divorce and custody arrangements can affect who has practical access to your financial accounts, your home, and your children’s needs. Because we have handled more than 2,500 divorce cases, we understand how sensitive these issues can be. We work to align your power of attorney with your current safety, privacy, and parenting concerns so your former partner does not have more authority than you intend.

We also help many adult children who are trying to support their parents aging in place in Jersey City or nearby communities. Sometimes siblings disagree about who should make decisions or how money should be spent. Our background in mediation and collaborative law helps us guide these families through difficult conversations. When appropriate, we can suggest ways to involve more than one person in oversight, while still keeping authority clear.

For parents of young children, planning can feel especially emotional. You might worry about what would happen if you were in an accident during a commute or a medical emergency. We talk with you about how a power of attorney for finances fits into your broader plans to protect your children, and how it can work alongside guardianship provisions in your will or other documents you already have.

Across all of these situations, communication is essential. Because our team speaks English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Urdu, we can often include parents or grandparents in discussions in the language that feels most natural to them. This helps everyone understand the plan, which reduces confusion and conflict later.

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Such circumstances are difficult to navigate, but your support made this smooth and easy for us.
“Such circumstances are difficult to navigate, but your support made this smooth and easy for us.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to set up a power of attorney?

We can usually prepare and finalize a power of attorney within days or a few weeks, depending on how complex your situation is and how quickly decisions are made. At your consultation, we discuss your timing needs and give you a realistic sense of the steps involved.

Can I change my power of attorney after a divorce?

Yes, you can generally revoke an existing power of attorney and sign a new one after or during a divorce. We review your current documents, consider any family court orders, and advise you on the best time and method to update your planning so your wishes are accurately reflected.

What if my family disagrees about who should be my agent?

If your family does not agree, we help you think through the pros and cons of each option and how conflict might be reduced. Our background in mediation and collaborative law often helps in these conversations. Ultimately, the choice of agent is yours, and we support you in making it thoughtfully.

Do my parents need to come to your office in person?

In many cases, we can handle much of the planning by phone or video, then arrange for proper signing when everyone is ready. Older or ill parents may prefer limited travel. We discuss options that meet legal requirements while keeping them as comfortable as possible.

How much will it cost to create a power of attorney?

Costs depend on your needs and whether we are also addressing related family law or estate planning matters. We aim to keep our fees reasonable and explain them clearly at the start. During your first conversation, we outline expected costs so you can decide how to proceed.

Talk With Our Team Today

Putting a thoughtful power of attorney in place can bring real peace of mind. Whether you are going through a divorce, caring for a parent, or simply planning ahead, having a trusted person legally authorized to act for you can spare your family from confusion and delay at an already stressful time.

At Lori Cieckiewicz, P.C., we bring more than 22 years of focused family law experience to every planning conversation. We understand the realities of life in Jersey City, and we take time to listen before we make recommendations. Our team explains your options in clear language and works with you to create documents that fit your family and your values.

If you are ready to talk about a power of attorney or still have questions, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation. We will walk you through the process and discuss fees upfront, so you can decide on next steps with clarity and confidence.

Contact us at (201) 561-8441 to schedule your consultation with our reliable power of attorney lawyer in Jersey City and start your journey toward a clearer, more secure future.

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