---
type: Concept
title: Powers of Attorney for Aging and Incapacity (Missouri)
description: Missouri durable financial and health-care powers of attorney let a trusted person act if capacity is lost, avoiding guardianship.
resource: https://nemolegal.com/missouri-durable-power-of-attorney/
tags: [power-of-attorney, missouri, durable-poa, health-care-directive, incapacity]
timestamp: 2026-06-18
jurisdiction: Missouri
author: Patrick Nolan
---

# Summary

Powers of attorney are the documents that keep an aging or incapacitated person's affairs out of court. A durable financial power of attorney lets a trusted person manage money and property; a health-care power of attorney and directive control medical decisions.

# The documents

- Financial power of attorney (RSMo §404.710), durable so it survives incapacity (RSMo §404.705)
- Health-care durable power of attorney and living will (RSMo §§404.800 to 404.865)

# Decision rule

If valid powers of attorney exist when capacity is lost, the named agent simply acts. If they do not, the family must petition a court for guardianship or conservatorship. Execute Missouri-compliant powers of attorney before they are needed.

# Related

- [Guardianship and Conservatorship](/okf/elder-law-medicaid/guardianship-conservatorship.md)
- [The Six Core Documents](/okf/estate-planning/core-documents.md)