If you’ve just been named — or you’re weighing whether to say yes — you probably want the short version of what the job actually requires. Here’s a plain checklist of a Power of Attorney’s core responsibilities.
Your core duties
- Act only in the principal’s best interest. Every decision is for them, never for you.
- Stay inside the document. Do only what the Power of Attorney authorizes — no more.
- Keep their money completely separate from your own. Never commingle funds.
- Keep clear records of every transaction, receipt, and major decision.
- Follow their known wishes and preserve their existing plans where you can.
- Avoid self-dealing — no using the role to benefit yourself.
These aren’t suggestions; they’re the fiduciary duties the law holds you to.
The practical to-dos
Beyond the duties, the day-to-day usually includes:
- Reading the document and knowing when it takes effect (how to activate it)
- Getting on file with banks and institutions (Power of Attorney and bank accounts)
- Gathering accounts, bills, insurance, and contacts in one place
- Paying bills and managing benefits and taxes on time
- Signing correctly — in your representative capacity
- Knowing what ends the role, including that it ends at death
Get a personalized starting list
Want a checklist tailored to your situation? Try the free document checklist builder, and read your first steps as a new agent. To learn the whole role end to end, the POA Caregiver Program is built for exactly this.
_This article is plain-English education, not legal advice. Power of Attorney law varies by state, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. For guidance on your specific situation, talk with a licensed attorney in your state._