A Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) is a document that gives a designated person authority to take care of your child when you can’t. The person you give this permission to is called an attorney-in-fact.

A DOPA gives the designated person authority to make decisions about your child’s care, custody, and property. The designated person’s decisions on these matters have the same effect as if you made the decisions yourself. This means that someone with a DOPA can take your child to the doctor for medical treatment, and can excuse the child from school for illnesses, medical appointments, or other issues. But a DOPA does not provide the designated person authority to make decisions on matters such as adoption or marriage.

A DOPA does not take away any of your rights to make decisions for your child, and you can override any decisions made by the attorney-in-fact. You do need a separate DOPA for each child.

In Pennsylvania, a Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) is a legal mechanism that allows a parent to grant a designated individual, known as an attorney-in-fact, the authority to make certain decisions regarding their child's care, custody, and property in the parent's absence. The attorney-in-fact can make decisions such as seeking medical treatment for the child or excusing the child from school. However, the attorney-in-fact cannot make decisions about the child's adoption, marriage, or other significant legal matters. Importantly, executing a DOPA does not strip the parent of their rights; the parent retains the ability to make decisions for their child and can override the attorney-in-fact's decisions. It's also necessary to have a separate DOPA for each child. Pennsylvania law outlines the specific requirements and limitations for a DOPA, ensuring that the child's welfare is protected while the parent is unable to perform their duties.