What does attornment mean?
Attornment is a formal legal term for the act of appointing another person to act on one’s behalf or transferring a claim or right to another. In its best-known use, an attornment gives an attorney authority to represent the person who granted it, commonly through a power of attorney. Historically, the term also referred to the transfer of a debt or chose in action so that the recipient could enforce it in court. The word is consequently associated with legal documents, agency, and the conferral or transfer of authority rather than with an ordinary job appointment. Because attornment is specialized and somewhat formal, modern speakers usually say “power of attorney,” “appointment of an attorney,” or “assignment” when those terms are more precise. The word is nevertheless worth knowing because it captures both the conferral and transfer of legal authority in a distinctly legal formulation. It is chiefly associated with American legal usage, though related terminology appears historically in British legal English.
nounThe legal appointment of another person, especially an attorney, to act on one’s behalf; historically, the transfer of a debt, claim, or chose in action to another.
- The act of appointing another person, especially an attorney, to act on one’s behalf.
- The transfer of a debt, claim, or chose in action to another, together with authority to enforce it.
"The court examined the letter of attornment authorizing the agent to pursue the claim."
"The court examined the letter of attornment authorizing the agent to pursue the claim."
"The assignment operated as an attornment of the claim to the insurance company."
The plural is grammatically standard but rare, reflecting the word’s specialized and limited use.
"Several attornments were listed in the archive of the case file."
Etymologically, attornment means “a turning over”: one person legally hands another the authority to act in their place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does attornment come from?
Attornment entered English through Old French attournement, a legal term referring to the appointment of a representative. The French word was based on Medieval Latin attornare, “to turn over to another,” formed from ad, “to,” and tornare, “to turn.” The same turning-over sense is reflected in attorney, while attorn preserves the older legal verb.
How attornment is actually used
This is formal, specialized legal terminology. It is chiefly associated with American law, though related usage appeared historically in British legal English. In modern practice, “power of attorney,” “appointment,” or “assignment” will often be clearer and more precise.
Easily confused with attornment
An attorney is the person appointed to act for another, whereas attornment is the legal act of granting that authority.