That being said, you must make sure that you appoint someone who is worthy of your trust. Your agent can be your relative or trusted friend who can handle well all concerns regarding your finances and other affairs. However, if you are not confident about entrusting everything to someone else, you may consider giving a number of limited powers of attorney rather just one general power. It may prove to be difficult for the agent to handle everything. In some cases, a co-agent is assigned by the principal to ensure that not all responsibilities would burden one agent. To exercise more control on the transactions, the principal is also recommended to ask regular reports from the attorney-in-fact/ agent. In addition to that, it could also end upon the death of the principal or when the principal, given that h/she is still competent, decided to destroy the document. The principal could also sign or create another document, duly notarized, stating the termination of the document. Often, the power of attorney states an alternate attorney-in-fact, in case the original is compromised or dies. Because it can have legal consequences, the transfer of power or the authorizing is written as a legal contract, which is shown to people before the attorney-in-fact can proceed with his dealings on behalf of the client or the principal. Often, when the attorney-in-fact is being paid, a separate contract is drafted for the payment and is not shown to other people. The right type to choose depends on the extent of power you want to bestow on your agent. It also depends on when you prefer to start appointing such power to your agent as well as when you want the power terminated. 1. General - This legal document allows the attorney-in-fact to act for the principal in almost every aspect of his or her life. That is usually the case if you have encountered this term for the first time. However, nothing is complex or incomprehensible about it. The term refers to a legal document that allows you to appoint someone who can make important choices for yourself when time comes you can no longer do it for your own.