A power of attorney form is a document that lets a person choose someone else to handle their medical or financial responsibilities. It’s often the case that the individual (called the principal) will choose their spouse, a family member, or a close friend to fill the agent roll. After signing, the agent will need to hold onto a copy to serve as proof of their authority to act on the principal’s behalf.
A power of attorney form is a document that lets a person choose someone else to handle their medical or financial responsibilities. It’s often the case that the individual (called the principal) will choose their spouse, a family member, or a close friend to fill the agent roll. After signing, the agent will need to hold onto a copy to serve as proof of their authority to act on the principal’s behalf.
PDF Download
A power of attorney form is a document that lets a person choose someone else to handle their medical or financial responsibilities. It’s often the case that the individual (called the principal) will choose their spouse, a family member, or a close friend to fill the agent roll. After signing, the agent will need to hold onto a copy to serve as proof of their authority to act on the principal’s behalf.
4.7 | 495 Ratings Downloads: 62,974
Simple (1 page) Power of Attorney – A simplified variation of the limited power of attorney form. Can be used to give a person authority for general life tasks (such as cashing a check).
Advance Directive – Combines a living will and medical power of attorney into one (1) document.
Durable Power of Attorney – Allows an agent to take someone’s place for financial decisions and remains valid if the principal should become incapacitated.
General Power of Attorney – Permits an agent to take someone’s place for financial decisions, but becomes invalid if the principal becomes incapacitated.
Limited Power of Attorney – Allows an agent to act on behalf of the principal for a specific purpose. This document becomes void after the agent has fulfilled their duty.
Living Will – Sets end-of-life treatment options for a patient. Usually coupled with medical power of attorney.
Medical Power of Attorney – Gives an agent the right to act on a person’s behalf for medical decisions (only if the principal can no longer make decisions themselves).
Minor (child) Power of Attorney – Allows a parent or guardian to allow someone else to make decisions on behalf of their child. This instrument is effective only for a short period, typically a maximum of 6 to 12 months, but this varies state by state.
Real Estate Power of Attorney – Permits a representative to make buying, selling, and leasing decisions on the principal’s behalf.
Tax Power of Attorney (2848) – For Federal (IRS) or state tax purposes. Required by most tax accountants and lawyers when filing on their client’s behalf.
Vehicle (DMV) Power of Attorney – Can be executed to grant a representative to handle the sale, purchase, or registration of a motor vehicle for the principal.
Revocation of Power of Attorney – Cancels an existing power of attorney. Must be sent to the agent and anyone else that has a copy of the original POA.
A power of attorney is a form used for providing a person (agent) with the authority to represent another person. The document is most commonly used for electing someone else to handle financial transactions or medical decisions. The most popular type of designation, known as a “durable power of attorney,” allows the appointment to remain active even if the principal should become incapacitated.
It’s very important to understand the difference between a power of attorney being durable versus non-durable. A power of attorney document that is durable gives the principal’s agent the power to make decisions even if the principal is unable to make decisions on their own, a term referred to as being incapacitated. Therefore, the agent will have the power to act on the principal’s behalf at their sole discretion. It’s important that the agent comprehends the wishes and preferences of the principal so they can represent them to the best of their ability in the event of incapacitation.
It should stated explicitly somewhere on the form whether or not the power of attorney executed by the principals is durable or non-durable.
The flow chart below can be used to decide which power of attorney document best suits one’s needs:
Getting power of attorney requires a principal to select a trusted person to handle specific responsibilities on their behalf. The powers and terms of designation are written in a document called a “power of attorney form,” which must be signed under the laws of the state in which it is executed. Once signed, the agent may use the form whenever they act in the place of the principal.
An agent, also known as an “attorney-in-fact” or “surrogate,” may act on behalf of the principal for financial or medical-related decisions. When selecting an agent, the principal should choose someone that they believe to be trustworthy and that appreciates their values. Therefore, the principal might appoint their spouse, a family member, or a close friend as their agent.
If the principal is having a difficult time selecting their agent, an individual named as a beneficiary in their Last Will and Testament is sometimes a suitable option.
Decide the powers that the agent will have during the term of the power of attorney. Depending on the form, this may be wide-ranging financial responsibility or the ability to make health care decisions for someone else. No matter the role, the principal will ultimately decide what the agent can and cannot do on their behalf.
Once the powers have been agreed upon it’s time to meet with the agent and complete the documents. The agent should be made aware of the intentions of the principal and what they expect them to do as their agent. Once the agent understands the wishes and plans of the principal, the documents should be signed.
It’s highly recommended to use the power of attorney documents specific to the state in which the principal resides.
Each state has its own signing requirements, and each power of attorney document has its own specifications as well. Most power of attorney forms require signatures to be inscribed before a notary public, witnesses, or both. Some states have further requirements that family members, beneficiaries, and medical staff cannot be considered witnesses. Therefore, the principal would be wise to read their state laws to ensure the power of attorney document will be legally binding.
In some states, such as California, a principal is able to protect themselves by registering the signed power of attorney with a government agency. For the agent to act on behalf of the principal, they must present a copy of the power of attorney each time they are completing an act as the principal’s attorney-in-fact. Some institutions, such as banks and hospitals, might allow the agent to file the power of attorney so that it does not have to be produced every time.
The Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) was created by the Uniform Law Commission to provide the best possible legislation with regard to a power of attorney. Since being introduced in 2006, it has been enacted in 28 states with more states scheduled to enact the UPOAA.
The UPOAA only applies to financial powers and does not affect health care, guardianship, or conservatorship decisions.
| State | Year Enacted | Bill |
| Alabama | 2011 | SB 53 |
| Arkansas | 2011 | SB 887 |
| Colorado | 2009 | HB 09-1198 |
| Connecticut | 2016 | Public Act No. 15-240 |
| Georgia | 2018 | House Bill 897 |
| Hawaii | 2014 | SB 2229 |
| Idaho | 2008 | Title 15, Chapter 12 |
| Iowa | 2014 | S.F. 2168 |
| Kentucky | 2020 | KRS Chapter 457 |
| Maine | 2009 | Chapter 292 |
| Maryland | 2010 | SB 309 |
| Montana | 2011 | HB 0374 |
| Nebraska | 2012 | LB 1113 |
| Nevada | 2019 | NRS Chapter 162A |
| New Hampshire | 2017 | SB230 |
| New Mexico | 2011 | SB 146 |
| North Carolina | 2017 | SB 569 |
| Ohio | 2012 | Chapter 1337 |
| Oklahoma | 2021 | HB 2548 |
| Pennsylvania | 2014 | HB 1429 |
| South Carolina | 2016 | SB 778 |
| South Dakota | 2020 | SB 148 |
| Texas | 2017 | HB 1974 |
| Utah | 2016 | HB 74 |
| Virginia | 2010 | SB 569 |
| Washington | 2017 | SB 5635 |
| West Virginia | 2012 | Chapter 39B |
| Wisconsin | 2010 | Chapter 244 |
| Wyoming | 2017 | SF0105 |
A power of attorney form should not be drafted from scratch, unless done so by an experienced attorney that has extensive knowledge in power of attorney law. This explanation on how to write a power of attorney details the steps a principal should take when filling out their power of attorney form.
A power of attorney form should be detailed and tailored to the specific needs of the principal. If they need to create a power of attorney to give financial powers to an agent, they should be certain that they are not using a medical power of attorney. Once they are satisfied with the contents of the document, they can begin to complete all the mandatory fillable fields.
1. Since a power of attorney must be state specific, enter the state of where the principal resides.
Provide the following information into the appropriate fields:
2. Full legal name of the principal. (The principal is the person giving power to the agent.)
3. The agent’s name. (This is the person that is being granted power of attorney.)
4. The agent’s address.
5. The agent’s phone number.
In the event that the primary agent dies or is unable to perform their duties, a backup agent will take their place(successor agent). And if the successor agent is unavailable, a second successor agent will be appointed. The following successor agent information must be provided:
6. The successor agent’s name.
7. The successor agent’s address.
8. The successor agent’s phone number.
9. The 2nd successor agent’s name.
10. The 2nd successor agent’s address.
11. The 2nd successor agent’s phone number.
12. The principal must initial next to each power that they wish to grant to their agent. As seen in the image above, do not use a check mark to grant powers.
13. If it’s there are certain details not already included in the content of the document, the principal can enter them in the special instructions section. For example, if powers are granted to two (2) agents, the principal can state within the special instructions that they must act in conjunction with each other on all matters.
A court of law may feel that it’s necessary to appoint an individual to handle the principal’s estate on their behalf (conservator) or a guardian of their person. The principal can use this section of the form to provide a nominee for these positions; however, the court ultimately has the final say in the matter.
14. The name of the nominee for conservator.
15. The address of the nominee for conservator.
16. The phone number of the nominee for conservator.
17. The name of the nominee for guardian.
18. The address of the nominee for guardian.
19. The phone number of the nominee for guardian.
20. In section 20, enter the personal information of the principal including name, date, address, and phone number. It’s better to wait to sign until in the presence of a Notary Public.
The agent is required to make a statement under penalty of perjury that the principal did in fact grant them power of attorney. To do this, they must enter the following information into fields 21-25:
21. The state in which the agent resides. (It does not have to be the same state and county in which the principal lives.)
22. The county in which the agent resides.
23. The agent’s name.
24. The principal’s name.
25. The date this section was completed.
26. The agent’s personal information must be entered in this section. If necessary, the agent must wait until in the presence of a notary to sign the document.
