What Are The Types Of Power Of Attorney? (2026)
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Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.
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Summary
- A power of attorney names someone to make decisions for you when you can't
- Powers of attorney can be very broad or very limited in scope
- Many people create different POAs for different areas of their lives
A power of attorney (POA) is a document allowing a trusted person to make decisions for you if you become unable to. This trusted person is known as your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact." With a POA in place, your agent can step in if you suffer a medical emergency or otherwise can't handle your own affairs.
So what types of power of attorney are there, and how do you decide which ones you need?
Common Types of Power of Attorney and Their Purposes
These are some of the most common powers of attorney to choose from:
General Power of Attorney
A general power of attorney names someone to make financial, legal and business decisions on your behalf. Most general powers of attorney are created for short-term, specific situations, such as when you're traveling or deployed. Creating a general power of attorney online is easy.
Limited Power of Attorney
A limited power of attorney grants your agent very specific powers. For instance, if you need someone to sign closing documents during the sale of your home, you could create a POA authorizing them to do that. You can create a limited power of attorney in minutes for any of these purposes.
Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney remains in place even if you become incapacitated. That way, your agent can start managing your affairs without delay if you're unable to. You can create a personalized durable power of attorney that's legally valid online.
Medical Power of Attorney
What happens if you fall into a coma, suffer a medical emergency or otherwise can't make medical decisions for yourself? With a medical power of attorney, a person of your choice can handle your healthcare decisions until you're able to make them again.
Some states use terms other than "medical power of attorney" to describe choosing someone to make healthcare decisions for you. For example, New York requires you to name a medical decision-maker with a form called a health care proxy. Protect your health by creating a medical power of attorney.
Springing Power of Attorney
A springing power of attorney goes into effect only if you become incapacitated. However, a doctor has to certify that you're incompetent before your agent can take over. Create a springing power of attorney online in minutes.
Special Power of Attorney
A special power of attorney is another term for a limited power of attorney. It's a good choice if you need to authorize someone to do a specific task. Make sure to create a special power of attorney if such a scenario applies to you.
Choosing the Right Power of Attorney Is Key
Many people are surprised by how many types of power of attorney there are. Often, it's wise to have more than one. For instance, you may want to create one power of attorney to nominate a financial decision-maker and another to choose someone to make healthcare decisions for you.
Thinking about becoming incapacitated can be uncomfortable. But when you have the right powers of attorney in place, you and your family can enjoy peace of mind.
Have questions about legal documents? Explore the legal document template library from ConsumerShield today.
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Types of POA
