The spelling of the legal term "warrant of attorney" may appear confusing at first glance. However, it can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription as /ˈwɒrənt əv əˈtɔːni/. The first syllable, "war," is pronounced with a short "o" sound, followed by the "ant" sound. The second syllable, "of," is pronounced with a schwa sound, while the third syllable, "at," is pronounced with a long "a" sound. The final syllable, "torney," is pronounced with a long "o" sound and a short "i" sound.
A "warrant of attorney" is a legal document that grants authority to an attorney or a designated representative to act on behalf of a client in a court of law. It is a type of power of attorney specifically used in the context of legal proceedings, giving the attorney power to make various decisions and represent the client's interests.
The warrant of attorney is typically executed voluntarily by the party who is authorizing the attorney to act on their behalf. It is commonly used in various legal situations such as debt collections, mortgage foreclosures, or civil lawsuits. The party who grants the warrant of attorney, known as the grantor, confers certain powers to their attorney, allowing them to initiate legal actions, appear before the court, settle disputes, or make legal agreements or decisions on behalf of the grantor.
This legal document provides the attorney with significant powers that can be used within the bounds of the law. However, it is crucial for the grantor to exercise caution and trust the attorney, as the powers granted through the warrant of attorney can have significant implications on the grantor's legal rights and obligations. The attorney is under an ethical duty to act in the best interest of their client and fully disclose any actions taken on their behalf using the powers conferred by the warrant of attorney.
In summary, a warrant of attorney is a legal instrument that empowers an attorney to act on behalf of a client in a court of law, enabling them to make legal decisions and represent the grantor in various legal proceedings.
A written authority given by a client to his attorney to appear at a court for him; search-warrant, a written document authorising a person to enter a house, a shop, &c., usually for stolen goods; dock-warrant, a custom-house licence or authority.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.