Power of attorney
A document authorizing one person to act on another's behalf.
A power of attorney (POA) is a written authorization for an agent ("attorney-in-fact") to act on the principal's behalf in financial, legal, or health-care matters. A "durable" POA remains effective if the principal becomes incapacitated; a "springing" POA takes effect only upon a defined event.
POAs are a staple of estate-planning practice and must meet state-specific execution requirements.