A power of attorney is a document authorizing someone to act on your behalf. You determine how much power the person will have over your affairs. Your power of attorney may be a general or limited power of attorney. A general power of attorney authorizes your agent to conduct your entire business and affairs. A limited or special power of attorney authorizes your agent to conduct specified business, perform specified acts, or make certain decisions on your behalf. In any power of attorney, you are considered to be the principal and the person to whom you assign the power is your agent or attorney-in-fact. Your attorney-in-fact does not have to be a lawyer, but it should be someone you trust a great deal.