©2010 Raymon B. Harvey, P. A.    Arkansas Elder Law™  Arkansas Elder Law & Special Needs Trusts™ Durable Power of Attorney 501-221-3416 650 S. Shackleford Rd. Suite 400 Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 Tel:   501-221-3416 Fax:  501-221-2689 info@ArkansasElderLaw.com LEARN MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE Durable Power of Attorney An ordinary power of attorney is a legal document, signed by a competent person, which gives another person the authority to handle some or all the first person's affairs.  The first person is called the "principal."  The individual acting on behalf of the principal is called the "agent" or "attorney-in-fact" (although he or she need not actually be an attorney).  Lawyers usually prepare powers of attorney. A power of attorney may be very limited, covering a single transaction or event.  A power of attorney also may be very broad, giving the agent decisionmaking power over all aspects of your financial and personal life. A power of attorney is only valid if the principal was mentally competent when he signed it, and powers of attorney generally end automatically when the principal dies or becomes incapacitated.  In addition, the power of attorney itself may specify when it shall end -- such as the occurrence of an event (e.g., "This power shall remain in effect until I return to my residence from my trip to Paris.") or a certain date (e.g., December 25, 2001). An ordinary power of attorney is good only as long as the principal is mentally alert.  A durable power of attorney is a special kind of power of attorney that continues to operate even after the principal becomes incompetent.  With both an ordinary power of attorney and a durable power of attorney, it is presumed that the agent's power begins when the power of attorney is signed.  A springing power of attorney is one that provides for the commencement of the power at some future date.