What It is
The principal is the person who grants authority under a power of attorney — the individual or entity appointing someone else to act on their behalf.
What it is not
The principal is not the agent, and granting a POA does not transfer ownership or remove the principal’s own right to act.
Where it is used
The principal’s identity, capacity and signature are verified at notarisation, and the scope of what they authorise defines the whole document.
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Last reviewed: August 2026