Establishing power of attorney allows you to decide who gets to make decisions when you’re unable to. You can select someone you know and trust, then determine exactly how much authority they have. Power of attorney also helps reduce your loved ones’ mental and emotional stress. Consider an elderly relative who is no longer able to make decisions for themselves. If they have already established power of attorney, their agent can step in to manage their affairs when the time comes. But without power of attorney, the court may appoint a conservator or guardian to manage the individual’s affairs. The individual and their family have no control over who the court chooses. In addition, there’s no guarantee that the conservator would make decisions that the individual or their loved ones agree with.