The durable power of attorney could cover different decisions and responsibilities, aside from health care decisions, like: Providing gifts which can play a major part in estate tax planning. Accessing safe-deposit boxes. Signing tax returns, IRS documents, and settling tax disputes. Pursuing legal matters or litigation on behalf of the principal. 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. Perhaps, the person you are appointing as your attorney-in-fact could be busier than you are. It is important that the person be able to spend much time to handle your affairs and work on your behalf. If not, you would be in trouble. Is the person easily available? Appoint an agent or attorney-in-fact who is easily accessible or available. How an Agent in Your Power of Attorney should Manage Your Money The power of attorney is most welcomed by many people because of its function to appoint a person to make decisions on your behalf. In case you get sick or you go out of the country and there would be important errands or transactions to be done, you could be sure someone would appropriately takeover to make sure everything is in place. The power is granted to an attorney-in-fact or agent that would have the authority to decide on different matters. The person who is granting the authority would, of course, identify the scope of the mandate. It could be the specific or the general power of attorney. There is a specific power of attorney which requires the attorney-in-fact deal with only one particular issue. A POA suits people who want to have the peace of mind knowing that someone they trust will act on their behalf regarding financial or health care matters when they are no longer able to do so. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of POA. This legal document comes in handy when you incur an injury or develop a life-threatening disease, both of which render you incapable of making decisions on your own.