APowerofAttorney(POA)isalegaldocumentthatallowsoneperson(the"principal")tograntauthoritytoanotherperson(the"agent"or"attorney-in-fact")toactontheirbehalfinvariousmatters.Thisauthorizationcancoverawiderangeofactivities,includingfinancialtransactions,propertymanagement,legaldecisions,orhealthcarechoices,dependingonthetypeofPOA.Thedocumentspecifiesthescopeoftheagent'spowers,whichcanbebroadorlimitedtospecificactions.Itmaytakeeffectimmediatelyoronlyundercertainconditions,suchasiftheprincipalbecomesincapacitated(knownasa"durable"POA).Awell-draftedPowerofAttorneyshouldclearlyidentifyallparties,definetheextentofauthoritygranted,andcomplywithlocallegalrequirements,whichoftenincludenotarizationorwitnesssignatures.It'simportanttochooseatrustworthyagent,asthisdocumentgivesthemsignificantlegalpowerovertheprincipal'saffairs.POAsarecommonlyusedinsituationswheresomeoneanticipatesneedingassistancewiththeiraffairsduetotravel,illness,orothercircumstances.Theyremainvaliduntilrevokedbytheprincipal,theprincipal'sdeath,oracourtorder.
