power of attorney

• IPA^(key): /ˌpaʊə əv əˈtəːni/

From attorney (“any personal representative”). Attorney now rarely has that sense outside of fixed expressions like this one.

power of attorney (countable and uncountable, plural powers of attorney)

1. (uncountable, law) The legal authorisation of one person to act as the agent of another.

   He confirmed that he had power of attorney.

2. (countable, law) A legal document allowing one person to act as the agent of another.

   Here you can apply for a power of attorney.

• A power of attorney is a document, not a person. Thus, if X signs a power of attorney in favour of Y, Y might properly say:
  • I am X's attorney or
  • I hold power of attorney for X, but not
  • I am power of attorney for X.
• However, this inaccurate use is widespread, even in business and commercial usage.

• attorney-in-fact