Power of Attorney
A document authorizing someone to act on your behalf — commonly for financial matters — while you are alive but unable to act for yourself.
This is the document that covers incapacity rather than death, and it is the one people most often skip. Without it, a family may need a court guardianship or conservatorship to do something as ordinary as paying a mortgage from your account.
A durable power of attorney remains effective if you become incapacitated, which is usually the entire point of having one.
Related Terms
Advance Directive
A document stating your wishes for medical care if you cannot speak for yourself, often paired with naming a healthcare proxy to decide on your behalf.
Executor
The person named in a will to carry it out — gathering assets, paying debts, and distributing what remains. Some states call this role a personal representative.
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