The holder of power of attorney is called what?

• A. Principal
• B. Attorney in fact
• C. Agent
• D. Trustee

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the person who acts under a power of attorney is the attorney-in-fact. They’re the designated individual chosen by the principal to handle specified matters on the principal’s behalf. While you might hear the word agent, the formal term used in this context is attorney-in-fact, which makes clear they are acting under the principal’s authority, not in their own right. It’s important to note that the principal is the person who grants the authority, and a trustee is someone related to a trust, not a power-of-attorney holder. The attorney-in-fact has fiduciary duties to follow the scope of the document and act in the principal’s best interests, with the exact authority defined by the POA (which can be durable or springing, among other forms).