This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.
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The term “power of attorney” refers to a broad category of legal documents that assign power to a trusted individual. In the United States, a power of attorney can empower that individual to make financial, health care, estate and other personal decisions on behalf of another person. [1] X Research source
In other jurisdictions, a Power of Attorney many only deal with legal or financial affairs, not health care or personal care decisions, so it is important to know what a Power of Attorney in your jurisdiction will cover. This article is for people making Powers of Attorney in the United States.
Whether you need to get a power of attorney document notarized will depend on what state you live in and the type of power of attorney you have. This article will explain how power of attorney works and how you can ensure that your power of attorney documents are recognized in court.