A power of attorney is a legal document that grants one individual to legally act on the behalf of another. What this means in plain English is that the power of attorney allows you to specify a person to sign legal documents for you and the court will treat them as if they have been signed directly by you. The types of documents covered by a power of attorney range from thing such as tax forms to contacts and loan forms.

To the court the person who possesses power of attorney over your affairs is seen as an “agent” or “attorney in fact” for your legal affairs. You might wish to grant power of attorney to an individual if for some reason you don’t feel you can handle the responsibility yourself. You can define not only the scope of the power (that is, limit it only to certain documents or actions) and you can limit the time for possession of the power of attorney. Most courts will dismiss a power of attorney if the grantor becomes incapacitated due to illness or other means unless the grantor specifies in writing the power of attorney should continue in such as situation. It the grantor dies, the power of attorney is automatically dissolved and the matter moves to the probate court.

You don’t need an attorney to draw up a power of attorney but it is recommended that you have an attorney review the document before the parties sign it.