But how can you be so sure that your child will be able to perform all the responsibilities? If you have more than one child, it would be wise to divide the POA among the children who can handle the duties you require. Also, it helps to assess your children to determine which ones can decide according to your best interest or your wishes. In cases like that, you may opt to get a durable POA that specifies a limited period when the authorization is effective. That document must also indicate the particular terms like your preference when it comes to the minimum sale price. A power-of-attorney document can also save you from hassles as well as unnecessary expenses and waste of time in certain situations. The person entrusted with this power/ authority is called the agent or attorney-in-fact while the person who signed the document is the principal. The power of attorney is usually used to handle financial or business affairs when the principal is not available or incapacitated. There are power of attorney documents which allow the agent to continue being authority even the principal is no longer mentally capable. What will happen if you don t have an attorney-in-fact and you are incapable of acting or deciding for your affairs? The court will then use its discretion in deciding who will be in charge of making decisions regarding your finances, properties, or health care. A judge will choose a person who will serve as your legal representative, and this agent may be someone who you do not fully trust. There are two kinds of power of attorney, the specific and the general. The specific power of attorney identifies particular transaction when the document would take effect. While, the general power of attorney could cover different personal and business transactions. When choosing the person who would best represent the interest of the principal, it is important to consider several factors. General power of attorney would include accessing safe deposit boxes, setting up trusts, transferring assets to trust funds, filing tax returns, entering contracts, representing the principal (signor of the document) and buying and selling property. This type of power of attorney would be valid unless specified by the document, the principal dies or revokes the document, or the document specifies that it would end upon the event when the principal gets incapacitated or disabled.