A lot of people have wrong notions about powers of attorney. They think that only the elderly as well as those with massive assets are only the ones who must draft power-of-attorney forms. However, the need for POA is not limited only to these groups. Even younger people and those who have only a few assets may create powers of attorney. This authority usually includes handling of your banking transactions, purchasing and disposing properties, settling claims, exercising stock rights, entering into deals or contracts, filing tax returns, and buying life insurance. It is usually used to enable your appointed agent the power to handle your important transactions within a specified period when you are practically unable to do them personally. Durable powers of attorney are named that way because no additional corrections to the documents are necessary once the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. Thus, this type of powers of attorney is an enduring one since it remains in effect even if the principal is mentally incapable of making decisions for himself or herself. The person or organization that receives authority is called the agent or the attorney-in-fact. The durable power of attorney is called such, since the attorney-in-fact would continue to have authority and act on behalf of the principal, even if the principal becomes incapacitated. Though the durable power of attorney has such characteristic, it is still important for the document to state that it would remain valid even if the principal becomes incapacitated or disabled. To begin with, the power of attorney is a legally effective document that states your agreement to give somebody else (a relative, a friend, or an employee) an authority to make special decisions or to do several things on your behalf. It is recognized in common law and civil law systems. It could be a legal or a business matter. One of the requirements in most states is that an agent should be of sound mind to be able to make the right decisions when it comes to the finances, properties, or health of his or her principal. Creating a power of attorney gives you an assurance that nothing will go wrong with your assets and finances and that your wishes will be carried out just as you planned.