A power of attorney is a document authorizing someone to act on your behalf with respect to financial and contractual matters. Among other acts, a person holding your power of attorney may sell your house, write checks from your bank account, or access your safe deposit box. A power of attorney is “durable,” meaning it continues in effect until you revoke it. Your death would also terminate any outstanding power of attorney.
Daughter Improperly Delegates Father’s Power of Attorney
There are limits to what a person may do under a power of attorney. Here is one illustration from a recent California appeals court decision. This is only an example and should not be construed as a complete statement of California law on the subject of powers of attorney.