A Power of Attorney is an agreement between the principal and the agent that authorizes the agent to do acts specified in the document for the benefit of the principal. There are several different types of Powers of Attorney, including Limited (Special), General, and those dealing with healthcare issues. A General Power of Attorney is a very broad authorization to do any act the Signer or Principal of the power could do, most often having to do with financial affairs.With a Limited or Special Power of Attorney, the principal may limit a power of attorney by its terms in any way such as scope, authority, or duration.Powers of attorney can be a valuable tool for planning for future needs. In the wrong hands, they can also lead to disastrous results. It is important to have discussions about these issues before a document like the Power of Attorney is needed.