General and Special Power of Attorney Documents - Important Differences

There are different types of Powers of Attorney, including General and Special variations.  Either can be made "durable" which means that it will stay in effect in the case that you (the principal) are no longer able to manage your affairs in the case of mental incompetence or disability.  Here are the differences between the two types of POA documents:

A General Power of Attorney authorizes your agent to act on your behalf in a variety of different situations. A General Power of Attorney is very broad and provides extensive powers to the person or organization you appoint as your agent.
 
A Special Power of Attorney is more limited in nature, and authorizes your agent to act on your behalf in specific, or special, situations only. For example, you could authorize someone to sell a car or a house for you, handle specific financial tasks for a designated time period when you are travelling, provide the ability to enter a safe deposit box, or conduct banking transactions. 

The Rocket Lawyer Power of Attorney interview allows you to customize the document as either a Special or General Power of Attorney.

Laws on this topic may vary from state to state. This content is not meant to provide you with complete information and it is not intended to be legal or tax advice. It is recommended that you consult with your own attorney, accountant or other advisor regarding your specific situation.