What does POA stand for? In nearly every legal or family setting, it is power of attorney, a signed legal document that gives another person the right to act on your behalf. That person might pay your bills, sell a car, talk to your bank or make medical choices, depending on what the document allows.
The letters also show up in offices and on forms with other meanings, such as plan of action and proof of address. On a bank, hospital or court form, though, POA almost always points to the legal document or to the person it names.
Quick facts
Stands for
Power of attorneyOther meanings
Plan of action; proof of address; price on applicationType
Initialism, said P O AKey roles
Principal (the person granting power) and agent, also called attorney-in-factUsed in
Banks, hospitals, real estate, military legal officesPlural
POAs, or powers of attorney
POA full form and the people involved
The POA full form is power of attorney. Here, attorney does not have to mean a lawyer. It is an older sense of the word: someone appointed to act for another person. A power of attorney involves two main roles:
- The principal: the person who signs the document and gives away some authority.
- The agent: the person who receives it. Legal papers often call this person the attorney-in-fact.
In casual speech, people use POA for both the paper and the agent. "Mom is my POA" means mom is the named agent. "Bring the POA to the bank" means bring the document.
The main kinds of power of attorney
| Type | What it does | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| General | Broad power over money and property | Someone handles all your affairs for a while |
| Limited or special | Power for one task or a short time | Selling a house while you are out of state |
| Durable | Stays in effect if you lose the ability to decide | Planning for illness or old age |
| Springing | Starts only when a set event happens | Takes effect after a doctor confirms incapacity |
| Health care | Lets the agent make medical decisions | Speaking to doctors if you cannot |
Rules for signing, witnesses and notarizing differ from state to state, so a form that works in one place may need changes in another.
Where you run into the letters
- Banks: a teller may ask for a copy of the POA before letting an adult child manage a parent's account.
- Hospitals: intake forms ask whether you have a health care POA on file.
- Real estate: a closing can go ahead with an agent signing under a limited POA.
- Military families: service members often sign one before a deployment, often with help from a base legal office. See JAG for who provides that help.
- Taxes: the IRS has its own form for letting a tax preparer speak for you. Read more on our IRS page.
A bank form: "Signing as POA for: ________." The person filling it in writes the principal's name, which shows they are signing as the agent, not for themselves.
What does POA stand for outside the law?
In business and travel, POA stands for a few other phrases.
- Plan of action: a short list of steps, as in "Here is our POA for the launch." It is close to an SOP but usually for one project.
- Proof of address: a utility bill or lease used to confirm where you live when you open an account.
- Price on application: seen in some listings, meaning you must ask for the figure.
- Point of arrival: sometimes used in shipping and travel plans.
For more office letters, browse business acronyms.
Using POA in a sentence
- "I signed a durable POA naming my sister."
- "The nursing home needs a copy of the POA."
- "He is acting as POA while his father recovers."
- "Send me the POA for next week's sprint."
Say it letter by letter, P O A. Because P has a consonant sound, use "a": a POA, not an POA.
Questions people ask
Does a POA end when the person dies?
Yes. A power of attorney ends at the principal's death. After that, the executor named in the will, or a person appointed by a court, handles the estate.
What is the difference between a POA and a guardian?
A POA is chosen by the principal while they can still make decisions. A guardian or conservator is appointed by a court, often when no valid POA exists.
Does the agent have to be a lawyer?
No. Any trusted adult can be named, such as a spouse, adult child or friend. The word attorney here simply means someone acting for another.
Can you cancel a power of attorney?
In general, a principal who still has capacity can revoke it in writing and tell the agent and any bank or office that has a copy. State rules on how to do this vary.
What does POA stand for in business emails?
In a work email it usually means plan of action, a short outline of next steps. The context makes it clear when someone means the legal document instead.