what do you call a person who has power of attorney

by Calista Pfeffer MD 7 min read

The term for the person granting the POA is the "principal." The individual who receives the power of attorney is called either the "agent" or the "attorney-in-fact." Check whether your state requires that you use specific terminology.

The person named in a power of attorney to act on your behalf is commonly referred to as your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact." With a valid power of attorney, your agent can take any action permitted in the document. Often your agent must present the actual document to invoke the power.

Full Answer

Who can create a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document between two parties: the principal and the attorney-in-fact. The principal is the person granting someone else the ability to make legal decisions on their behalf .

Who should you choose to be your power of attorney?

Your first step, if you want to establish a power of attorney, will be to select someone you trust to handle your affairs if and when you can’t. Whoever you select as your agent must be a person you trust with your life, because that is exactly what you will be doing. You can’t be too careful. Choose someone who is qualified for the task.

How do I find out who has power of attorney?

  • Right to information. Your parent doesn't have to tell you whom he or she chose as the agent. ...
  • Access to the parent. An agent under a financial power of attorney should not have the right to bar a sibling from seeing their parent. ...
  • Revoking a power of attorney. ...
  • Removing an agent under power of attorney. ...
  • The power of attorney ends at death. ...

What kind of power does a power of attorney actually have?

A general power of attorney gives broad powers to a person or organization (known as an agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on your behalf. These powers include handling financial and business transactions, buying life insurance, settling claims, operating business interests, making gifts , and employing professional help .

image

What is it called when someone has legal power over you?

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that gives an individual, called the agent or attorney-in-fact, the authority to take action on behalf of someone else, called the principal.

What is the highest form of power of attorney?

General power of attorney With a general power of attorney, you authorize your agent to act for you in all situations allowed by local law. This includes legal, financial, health, and business matters. General POAs can be durable or non-durable, depending on your preferences.

What is short for power of attorney?

A power of attorney (POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter.

Can two siblings have power of attorney?

Generally speaking, while it is good to include your spouse or siblings, consider the fact that they may not be around or have the inclination to sort out your wishes when the time comes. If possible, include two attorneys as standard and a third as a back-up should one of the attorneys not be able to act.

Who can override a power of attorney?

principalA power of attorney (POA) is a legal contract that gives a person (agent) the ability to act on behalf of someone (principal) and make decisions for them. Short answer: The principal who is still of sound mind can always override a power of attorney.

What are the 3 power of attorney?

Generally speaking, there are three main types of POA: Ordinary power of attorney. Lasting power of attorney. Enduring power of attorney.

Can a property be sold with power of attorney?

A person given power of attorney over a property cannot sell the asset unless there is a specific provision giving him the power, the Supreme Court has held in a judgment.

Can power of attorney be given to two persons?

Powers of Attorney by Two or More Persons A power of attorney may be executed by two or more persons jointly in favour of one or more persons and when there are several persons as attorneys a complete authorisation in letter to be given by one of them for acting severally.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document that lets you name someone to make decisions on your behalf. This appointment can take effect immediately if you become unable to make those decisions on your own.

What is a power of attorney for health care?

A health care power of attorney grants your agent authority to make medical decisions for you if you are unconscious, mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make decisions on your own. While not the same thing as a living will, many states allow you to include your preference about being kept on life support.

What is a POA?

A power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to manage your property, financial, or medical affairs if you become unable to do so.

What to do if your power of attorney is not able to determine mental competency?

If you think your mental capability may be questioned, have a doctor verify it in writing. If your power of attorney doesn't specify requirements for determining mental competency, your agent will still need a written doctor's confirmation of your incompetence in order to do business on your behalf. A court may even be required to decide the ...

What is the best way to choose a power of attorney?

Trust is a key factor when choosing an agent for your power of attorney. Whether the agent selected is a friend, relative, organization, or attorney, you need someone who will look out for your best interests, respect your wishes, and won't abuse the powers granted to him or her. It is important for an agent to keep accurate records ...

What powers can an agent exercise?

You can specify exactly what powers an agent may exercise by signing a special power of attorney. This is often used when one cannot handle certain affairs due to other commitments or health reasons. Selling property (personal and real), managing real estate, collecting debts, and handling business transactions are some ...

Who is a fiduciary under a power of attorney?

A person who acts under a power of attorney is a fiduciary. A fiduciary is someone responsible for managing some or all of another person's affairs. The fiduciary must act prudently and in a way that is fair to the person whose affairs he or she is managing.

What is a special power of attorney?

A special power of attorney is one that is limited to a specified act or type of act. A general power of attorney is one that allows the agent to make all personal and business decisions A temporary power of attorney is one with a limited time frame.

What is an attorney in fact?

Attorney-in-fact. The term attorney-in-fact is used in many jurisdictions instead of the term agent. That term should be distinguished from the term attorney-at-law. In the United States, an attorney-at-law is a solicitor who is also licensed to be an advocate in a particular jurisdiction.

What happens to a power of attorney when the grantor dies?

Under the common law, a power of attorney becomes ineffective if its grantor dies or becomes "incapacitated," meaning unable to grant such a power, because of physical injury or mental illness, for example, unless the grantor (or principal) specifies that the power of attorney will continue to be effective even if the grantor becomes incapacitated. This type of power of attorney is called "power of attorney with durable provisions" in the United States or " enduring power of attorney ", "lasting" or "continuing" power of attorney elsewhere. In effect, under a durable power of attorney, the authority of the attorney-in-fact to act and/or make decisions on behalf of the grantor continues until the grantor's death.

What happens if you don't have a power of attorney?

If a person does not have the capacity to execute a power of attorney (and does not already have a durable power in place), often the only way for another party to act on their behalf is to have a court impose a conservatorship or a guardianship .

What is a POA?

Power of attorney. A power of attorney ( POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor (of the power). The one authorized to act is the agent, attorney, ...

Can a power of attorney be granted to multiple people in Australia?

Australia. In Australia, anyone with capacity can grant a power of attorney. This can be done either for a pre-defined period of time, or in perpetuity ("enduring"). The power of attorney can be granted to one individual, or to multiple individuals.

Do you need a power of attorney to trade in a principal's account?

In financial situations wherein a principal requests a securities broker to perform extensive investment functions on the principal's behalf, independent of the principal's advice, power of attorney must be formally granted to the broker to trade in the principal's account. This rule also applies to principals who instruct their brokers to perform certain specific trades and principals who trust their brokers to perform certain trades in the principal's best interest.

When should a power of attorney be considered?

A power of attorney should be considered when planning for long-term care. There are different types of POAs that fall under either a general power of attorney or limited power of attorney . A general power of attorney acts on behalf of the principal in any and all matters, as allowed by the state.

Who should I choose to sign a power of attorney?

You should choose a trusted family member, a proven friend, or a reputable and honest professional. Remember, however, that signing a power of attorney that grants broad authority to an agent is very much like signing a blank check —so make sure you choose wisely and understand the laws that apply to the document.

What is Durable POA?

A “durable” POA remains in force to enable the agent to manage the creator’s affairs, and a “springing” POA comes into effect only if and when the creator of the POA becomes incapacitated. A medical or healthcare POA enables an agent to make medical decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person.

Why do parents need POAs?

Ask parents to create POAs for the sake of everyone in the family—including the children and grandchildren— who may be harmed by the complications and costs that result if a parent is incapacitated without a durable POA in place to manage the parent’s affairs.

Why does a power of attorney end?

A power of attorney can end for a number of reasons, such as when the principal dies, the principal revokes it, a court invalidates it, the principal divorces their spouse, who happens to be the agent, or the agent can no longer carry out the outlined responsibilities. Conventional POAs lapse when the creator becomes incapacitated.

What is the name of the person who gives the POA?

The term for the person granting the POA is the "principal." The individual who receives the power of attorney is called either the "agent" or the "attorney-in-fact." Check whether your state requires that you use specific terminology.

What is a limited power of attorney?

A limited power of attorney gives the agent the power to act on behalf of the principal in specific matters or events. For example, the limited POA may explicitly state that the agent is only allowed to manage the principal's retirement accounts.

image

Overview

A power of attorney (POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor (of the power). The one authorized to act is the agent, attorney, or in some common law jurisdictions, the attorney-in-fact.

Attorney-in-fact

The term attorney-in-fact is used in many jurisdictions instead of the term agent. That term should be distinguished from the term attorney-at-law. In the United States, an attorney-at-law is a solicitor who is also licensed to be an advocate in a particular jurisdiction. An attorney-in-fact may be a layperson and is authorized to act pursuant to the powers granted by a power of attorney but may not engage in acts that would constitute the unauthorized practice of law.

Structure and requirements

The person who creates a power of attorney, known as the grantor, can only do so when he/she has the requisite mental capacity. If the grantor loses the capacity to grant permission after the power of attorney has been created (for example, from Alzheimer's disease or a head injury in a car crash); then the power will probably no longer be effective. In some powers of attorney the grantor states that he/she wishes the document to remain in effect even after he/she becomes incapaci…

Types

A power of attorney may be: special (also called limited), general, or temporary. A special power of attorney is one that is limited to a specified act or type of act. A general power of attorney is one that allows the agent to make all personal and business decisions A temporary power of attorney is one with a limited time frame. If ever required, a durable power of attorney can be revoked or changed as long as the principal is still mentally competent to act.

Implied limitations on agent's power

Although a power of attorney grants the agent powers to perform acts in the absence of the grantor, the POA cannot grant powers to the agent that conflict with rules and regulations governing people and companies that the agent deals with. For example, if a bank has regulations that require the grantor to be physically present in the bank to perform certain actions, the POA cannot grant the agent power to perform those actions in the absence of the grantor.

Specialized uses

Robert's Rules of Order notes that proxy voting involves granting a power of attorney. The term "proxy" refers to both the power of attorney itself and the person to whom it is granted.
In financial situations wherein a principal requests a securities broker to perform extensive investment functions on the principal's behalf, independent of the principal's advice, power of attorney must be formally granted to the broker to trade in the principal's account. This rule also …

Legal status by country

In Australia, anyone with capacity can grant a power of attorney. This can be done either for a pre-defined period of time, or in perpetuity ("enduring"). The power of attorney can be granted to one individual, or to multiple individuals. When granted to multiple individuals, they may be authorised either to act jointly (all together) or to act severally (each can act individually).
In English law, applying in England and Wales, anyone with capacity can grant a power of attorne…

See also

• Cestui que
• Delegata potestas non potest delegari
• Estate planning