Definition of "Power of attorney"

Legal instrument whereby an individual is given the right to act on behalf of another individual. For example, the right to buy and sell stock and to sign all brokerage papers relating to buying and selling in a stockholder's account is given by the stockholder to another individual through power of attorney. Or the right to decide which settlement option is to be used under a life insurance policy may be given by a policy owner to another individual. Experts often advise extreme care in assigning a power of attorney since that person becomes free to make financial decisions that can enhance or ruin an individual represented.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Requirement that the combination of medicare and the employer's plan can not be greater than the amount the employer's plan would pay without Medicare. ...

Damage of property that is not total; average (in sense of partial) loss. ...

Special-purpose health insurance policy that covers an insured for accidents while traveling. The policy may cover the insured for one specific trip or one particular type of travel, or it ...

Policy clause that excludes coverage for loss of property if the cause of the loss cannot be identified. Mysterious disappearance is an exclusion in a standard inland marine insurance ...

Annual premium expressed on a proportionate basis such as monthly, quarterly, or semiannually. ...

Bill that allows the insurance company to include a clause in its policy that permits the policyholder to make a policy loan at a variable interest rate on new policies. Under this clause, ...

Ratio of net income after taxes to total end of the year net worth. This ratio indicates the return on stockholder's total equity. ...

Proposal, endorsed by then-President Bush and Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas Brady, which expands in a significant manner the number of individuals who could take advantage of the ...

Rules passed as part of the tax reform act of 1986 that limit the amount of income investors can shelter from current tax. Losses can be deducted from passive activities only in the amount ...

Popular Insurance Questions