A legal document that lets someone act on your behalf in financial or legal matters when you’re unable to do so yourself.
What to consider
Choose someone you trust completely to handle your affairs.
Review the scope of their authority to ensure it matches your needs.
Keep a copy of the document accessible for emergencies.
Real world scenarios
Margaret grants her daughter POA to handle bills while she recovers from surgery. This step prevents missed payments and late fees during her hospital stay.
Ashley updates her POA documents when she remarries, ensuring her new spouse can manage financial matters if she’s ever incapacitated.
By specifying limited authority, Fred ensures his designated agent can only address banking tasks, protecting other assets from misuse.