[sweetmtn]

Very true on the ups and down side of POA's. If your wife and you have bank accounts together, insurance together, you are pretty much ok. If something were to happen to you a POA comes in very handy, including having taxes done! NOW..on the down side, and this comes from first hand experience from my oldest son. He gave his wife a general POA while he was in Korea..she used that to sell his car, motorcycle, clean out the bank accounts, moved..AND THE BIGGEST was actually able to sign his name to proceed with a divorce! And when he came home, it was already done, his marriage over and he was left with ZERO! Military legal and a private attorney could not do anything about it as she had the legal right to sign his name to anything she felt like!
A general POA makes the person able to sign for a loan using your name, sell your belongings, apply for credit cards in your name, etc.
My PERSONAL opinion is to get a LIMITED POA, where it states exactly what can AND cannot be done ONLY!