The document takes effect right after the principal and attorney-in-fact have signed it, and it ends when the principal dies. 4. Springing - This legal document is created in such a way that it takes effect only after the principal has become mentally disabled. When writing the document, one has to make sure that it clearly explains how to determine the occurrence of the springing event. 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. This can be a son or daughter, a parent or other close relations. Do not be fooled with the name. Anybody can be given the power of attorney, even people who are not lawyers, although most of those who are given such responsibilities are family lawyers of rich people or corporate lawyers of big corporations, whose job entails them to represent the CEOs or the big bosses, which are often required to be in three places at the same time, which is of course, not humanly possible. Some, in fact, appoint people to act on their stead while they are in the hospital and to make any medical decisions in their stead like when they need to pull the plug in case of a comatose. This is what is often called the Health Care Power of Attorney, which empowers the attorney in fact to make health care decisions for the principal or the grantor, even something as sensitive as terminating the hospital care in cases when machines are the only one keeping them alive. You need to completely fill out a specific power of attorney form. It should state yourself as the principal and identify the agent you are appointing to take authority on your affairs if you become unable to do so. Of course, it is a requirement that your appointed agent agree to take the authority you are giving. Some states also accept the electronic power of attorney as long as the document is proven legitimate and legal. There are different kinds of power of attorney given to people. It may be general or special, which is limited to only one type of dealing or issue. It all depends on the principal. There is also the scope of the power of attorney.