Public law librarians frequently (sometimes it seems daily) get the question: Where can I find a Power of Attorney form (and preferably one online)?
Please don’t try to short circuit this important, critical, legal protection. Here’s a sample response to the question:
I don’t meant to sound lawyerly or librarian-ly(?), but it depends on what you mean by “standard form,” what kind of power is being granted, who the parties are, what state everyone lives in, etc.
From the Washington County (Oregon) Law Librarian:
This is a follow-up to my previous post for those of you looking for Oregon legal forms.
Another important place to look for official, court-sanctioned, Oregon legal forms will be in the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Circuit Court Supplemental Local Rules (SLR). But, you still need to know what you’re doing. Check with the court where you plan to file the documents. And consult an attorney, please. It saves no one any time, money, or grief if you file the wrong form and don’t comply with rules of service.
Also keep in mind, that not every County Circuit Court’s SLR will have forms. My own county has a number of Washington County Circuit Court-specific family law forms, e.g. a Motion to Reset. You may not find this form in another Circuit Court. Your Circuit Court may require you to file a different form!
This week’s Willamette Week’s story on Ken Kesey and The Screenplay (Sometimes a Great Lawsuit) is terrific – and a dream for [at least] this public law librarian who is always looking for stories that warn people about the perils of how Too Much Legal Self-Help is Not a Great Idea, especially when it comes time to drafting “agreements.”
Mr. Kesey could have dropped by his Lane County Law Library for some, uh, sample forms. Although, at that time he’d more likely have bumped into a zillion Eugene, Oregon lawyers who would been more than happy to help him draft the darn contract.
Keep in mind too, that the Lane County Law Library has been around for over 60 years!
Oregon Legal Research Blog