A general power of appointment gives the holder, also known as the donee, the broad power to give away the decedent’s property to whoever the holder determines. For example, if a holder of a power of appointment can give the property to anyone in the world, that is a general power of appointment.
If, however, the power of appointment holder can only choose to distribute the decedent’s property to a list of specified beneficiaries, then that holder instead has a special power of appointment.
[Last updated in January of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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