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

When the county picks up a person who has died in a facility, residence or public area, and no will or person with power of attorney can be found, the Office of Decedent Affairs and the public administrator work to locate next of kin and determine if the deceased died with any assets. —Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024

Other benefits of the account for taxpayers include being able to get account transcripts to include wage and income records, sign tax forms like powers of attorney or tax information authorizations, also view, make, and cancel payments. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

Amy had been accused of representing the 81-year-old woman and her family of taking control of her financial assets through a power of attorney agreement to release a $125,000 lien the woman had on Amy’s home. —Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

The allegedly fraudulent document establishing Hill’s power of attorney listed Jacqueline Cockerham and Hill’s son Omari Nembhard as witnesses, and was notarized by Sandra Lewis. —Annie Martin, Orlando Sentinel, 24 July 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)