Decision-education guide

Choosing someone for a power-of-attorney role

The person chosen may receive significant authority, so reliability, availability, judgment and conflicts of interest deserve careful thought.

POAPlanning

Editorial review: August 11, 2026 · Rachel E. Pembroke

Trust is necessary but not the only factor

The person should also understand the responsibility and be able to keep records.

Consider practical availability

Distance, health, workload and family circumstances can affect whether someone can act when needed.

Think about backups

Some legal systems allow alternate or multiple attorneys, with rules about how they act.

Explain expectations

Discuss values, record keeping and professional help before an emergency forces rushed decisions.

This page provides general educational information. For a real agreement, dispute, court filing, estate matter, debt problem or authorization document, check the current rules that apply where you live and obtain qualified advice when the consequences are significant.