a power of attorney (poa) is a legal document that gives a trusted person or entity the authority to handle your finances and legal matters, such as signing contracts, selling property, accessing… read more a power of attorney (poa) is a legal document that gives a trusted person or entity the authority to handle your finances and legal matters, such as signing contracts, selling property, accessing bank accounts. if needed, you can fill out a poa on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then help them sign it when ready. in the event that the principal is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship could be required. though it’s painful to acknowledge, a time might come when you can no longer handle your affairs on your own. there are multiple ways to classify power of attorney documents.