Tigers, Disappearance & Powers of Attorney
For fans of the Netflix series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a power of attorney has become a central piece of conspiratorial evidence. So, what exactly is a power of attorney? Powers of attorney come in several different forms, including:
General Power of Attorney: Grants an individual, the agent, broad powers to manage financial or other matters as specified in the document on behalf of another individual, the principal. Upon the principal’s incapacity or death, the agent’s powers become invalid.
Durable Power of Attorney: Grants an agent broad authority to manage the principal’s financial or personal affairs as outlined in the document. This document typically goes into effect immediately upon signing, and survives incapacity, meaning the agent retains stipulated powers even after the principal becomes incapacitated. These powers only become invalid upon revocation or the death of the principal.
Limited Power of Attorney: Grants an agent the power to act on behalf of the principal only for a specific purpose or transaction, for instance cashing checks or making medical decisions for the principal’s child for a limited period of time.
Springing Power of Attorney: Grants an agent the power to manage financial or other matters listed in the document on behalf of the principal, but such powers only go into effect (“spring” into action) upon the principal’s incapacity.
Health Care Power of Attorney: Grants an agent the power to make medical decisions on behalf of the principal in the event the principal is incapacitated or cannot communicate his or her wishes.
The power of attorney in question in the Tiger King series appears to be a durable power of attorney. The power of attorney curiously states that the agent retains her authority to act on behalf of the principal (in this case, the agent’s missing husband) even after the “incapacity or disappearance” of the principal. Viewers suspect nefarious meddling by the agent in the principal’s legal affairs, as the potential disappearance of the principal is not often specifically addressed in powers of attorney. Conspiracy theories abound, and whether she did or she didn’t, many Americans are thankful for this unbelievably outrageous distraction.