Financial Power of Attorney: Definition

Estate Documents

Published March 13, 2026

A document that gives a trusted person authority to handle your financial matters if you cannot do so yourself.

A financial power of attorney is a legal document that gives another person authority to manage your financial affairs. That person is called your agent or attorney-in-fact. This can include paying bills, managing investments, filing taxes, and handling real estate.

Durable vs. Springing

Durable power of attorney: Takes effect right away upon signing. It stays in effect if you become incapacitated. This is the most common type in Arizona estate plans.
Springing power of attorney: Only takes effect when a specific event occurs. Usually, a physician must determine you are incapacitated. This adds a safeguard, but the activation process can cause delays.

Why It Matters

Without a financial power of attorney, your family may need to ask the court for a conservatorship. That process is expensive, time-consuming, and public. A financial power of attorney avoids all of that by naming someone you trust in advance.

A financial power of attorney ends at your death. After death, your successor trustee or personal representative takes over.

If you are ready to put financial and healthcare powers of attorney in place in Arizona, the service page that explains the documents, who signs and what RJP does is our powers of attorney service.