power of attorney

power of attorney

The formal or legal document which allows one person to manage the affairs—or specific aspects of the affairs—of another. Power of attorney begins when a person has a physical illness or accident, and that person wants someone else to enter into management of his or her affairs. A standard power of attorney should not be used if the individual has been diagnosed with, or is likely to develop, mental illness or degenerative disease which can lead to mental incapacity, as an ordinary power of attorney automatically ends with loss of mental capacity.

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