If you have created a Revocable Trust as described below, and if all of your assets have been conveyed into the trust, then the durable power is unnecessary and serves only as a backup. However, if there are assets owned by you individually (not in a trust), then in the event you become seriously ill, the appointee (as provided in the durable power) may act on your behalf without the necessity of a court action to have aguardian appointed for you.  As such, I always suggest that my clientssign a durable power of attorney even if using a Revocable Trust in casesomething accidentally falls outside the trust.