WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?

A Financial Power of Attorney is a document that allows one person (the principal) to appoint another person (the agent) to perform certain specified acts of a financial nature on behalf of the principal.  A Power of Attorney means that you give someone the authority to act on your behalf (sign documents) as your agent.  

A Health Care Power of Attorney is a document that allows one person (the principal) to appoint another person (the agent) to make decisions of a health-care related nature on behalf of the principal.  In California, the document is called an Advance Health Care Directive.