A power of attorney is a document that allows one individual to act on behalf of another. The individual who grants the power of attorney is the principal, and the person given the authority to act on behalf of the principal is the attorney-in-fact or agent.
The principal must be aware of the content and nature within the document when he or she signs the power of attorney in order for the document to be valid.
There are several different types of powers of attorney, which include: durable power of attorney, springing power of attorney, general power of attorney, limited power of attorney.