power of attorney

noun phrase

: a legal instrument authorizing one to act as the attorney or agent of the grantor

Examples of power of attorney in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hill is accused of meeting the 96-year-old woman in March 2021, taking power of attorney over her a month later and exploiting her financially for about three years, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

My health care proxy, power of attorney and other legal papers are with them. —R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2024

Both these options cede less control than giving a child or someone else a power of attorney over your account. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

His son Pierce had been given power of attorney and Marshall's caregiver Betty Morgan became his legal guardian. —Allie Yang, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

power of attorney

: an instrument containing an authorization for one to act as the agent of the principal that terminates especially upon revocation by the principal or death of the principal or agent

called also letter of attorney

— durable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that becomes effective immediately and is not affected by the principal's subsequent incapacity or that becomes effective only upon the principal's incapacity

— general power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry on business or an enterprise for the principal compare special power of attorney in this entry

— health care power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing an agent to make health care decisions in the event of incapacity

called also medical power of attorney

— irrevocable power of attorney

: a power of attorney that cannot be revoked by the principal

— special power of attorney

: a power of attorney authorizing the agent to carry out a particular business transaction for the principal

— springing power of attorney

: a power of attorney that comes into effect only upon the occurrence of a specified condition (as the incapacity of the principal)