Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document that delegates authority to make certain decisions from one person (the principal) to another person (the agent). It is typically, though not exclusively, used as an advanced planning tool to deal with the problem of incapacity. This is the situation in which the law has deemed an individual to lack the ability to make decisions on her own, creating the need for assistance from a substitute decision maker or supportive network. This entry discusses the different types of powers of attorney, the ways in which agent conduct is regulated by law, and the importance of this legal tool for LGBTQ populations.

Powers of attorney are limited in time and scope. The principal may make the power of attorney ...