A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that appoints a specific person to act on behalf of another. A POA thereby grants the agent or attorney-in-fact the power to act in the principal’s place. The principal’s property, finances, investments, and medical care may be subject to the agent’s decision-making, which may be given broad or limited discretion.

The two primary categories of POAs are financial and health care, and both give the attorney-in-fact broad or specific authority.