What happens to a Power of Attorney (POA) when the veteran passes away?

When a veteran passes away, the Power of Attorney (POA) automatically terminates. This means that the authority granted to the agent under the POA ceases immediately upon the death of the principal, which in this case is the veteran. The rationale behind this is that a POA is fundamentally a legal instrument that allows someone to act on behalf of another person while that person is alive. Once the principal dies, the legal authority to act on their behalf no longer exists, and any actions taken by the agent after the death of the principal can be considered invalid.

This automatic termination reflects the principle that a POA is only relevant during the lifetime of the individual who grants it. After death, the handling of the deceased person's affairs typically falls under the jurisdiction of the executor of their estate or a probate court, rather than the agent designated in the POA.