Power of attorney basics

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document letting you name someone — an "agent" or "attorney-in-fact" — to act on your behalf. It's a much narrower, more specific tool than the name sometimes implies.

What it actually authorizes

A POA can be broad (financial and legal decisions generally) or narrow (a single transaction, like selling one specific property). The scope is defined entirely by the document's own language — an agent can only do what the document actually grants, not whatever they judge to be helpful.

Durable vs. non-durable

A "durable" POA remains in effect if you become incapacitated — arguably the main reason most people set one up. A "non-durable" POA automatically ends if you become incapacitated, which defeats the purpose for many common use cases like planning for a future illness.

When it takes effect

Some POAs are effective immediately upon signing; others are "springing," only taking effect upon a specified event (commonly, a doctor certifying incapacity). Springing POAs sound appealing but can create practical delays exactly when speed matters most, since proving the triggering event can take time.

It ends at death — that's what a will/executor is for

A power of attorney automatically terminates when the person who granted it dies — at that point, only a will's named executor (or a court-appointed administrator) has authority over the estate, not the former agent.