I don't know where the idea came from (other than lots of unfounded speculation or assumption) about any corrections, strike-outs or chicken scratching on this POA. The OP only mentioned getting a "fresh signature". The original date on the POA probably didn't even need to be changed. This is of course not a legal opinion, but I'd guess the fresh signature is just a current reaffirmation of the content, with a recently dated and notarized signature. Simple as that.
The attorney may have felt that it was irresponsible to generate an additional attorney fee (which surely would have been involved with even the slightest modification), for this 94 yo woman. If any of the content *was* to be changed, I imagine the attorney wouldn't have hesitated to redo the document.
I suspect people are over-thinking this. Sometimes things just are what they are, and I don't think we should be second-guessing attorneys. That doesn't mean we blindly notarize anything placed in front of us. We still need to exercise due diligence. But I also don't think we need to be fearing bogey men around every corner.
|