you can get a power of attorney on your own for free, minus notary fees, but in some situations you need to pay a lawyer. her work has appeared in marketwatch, cnbc, pbs, inverse, the philadelphia inquirer, and more. a power of attorney (poa) lets you give someone — the agent or attorney-in-fact — the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf. there are a few different powers of attorney, including a medical poa, financial poa, and even a power of attorney for a child. if you create a power of attorney on your own, then you will typically only pay the cost of notarization. states regulate how much a notary public can charge for their services, which may only run a few dollars. your state’s website or bar association may offer free power of attorney agreements that you can fill out.