By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
By Type (12)
 Durable (Financial) Power of Attorney – The most common type of power of attorney. It allows a person to give financial responsibility to someone else and continues if the principal becomes incapacitated.
|
 Advance Directive – Used for health care planning and combines a medical power of attorney and a living will.
|
 General (Non-Durable) Power of Attorney – Grants the same financial powers listed in the durable form except that it does not remain in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated or mentally disabled.
|
 IRS Power of Attorney (Form 2848) – Revised in Jan. 2021, allows an individual or business entity to elect a party, usually an accountant or tax attorney, to file federal taxes on their behalf.
Download: PDF |
 Limited Power of Attorney – Permits a person to carry out a specific activity on the principal’s behalf either as a one (1) time occurrence or for a specific period of time.
|
 Medical (Health Care) Power of Attorney – Used by an individual to select someone to handle their health care decisions in the chance they are not able to do so on their own.
|
 Minor (Child) Power of Attorney – A parent can give temporary custody of their child to someone else (typically 6-12 month maximum).
|
 Real Estate Power of Attorney – For a buyer or seller of a property that would like to hand over their rights in relation to handling the negotiation and transaction at closing.
|
 Revocation of Power of Attorney – To void a current power of attorney arrangement.
|
 State Tax Filing Power of Attorney – Used to elect a tax preparer to handle a filing on behalf of an individual or entity. Can be used for State or Federal filings.
Download: (State Specific) |
 Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) Version – A standard (statutory) version used in 32 States.
|
 Vehicle Power of Attorney – Hands over authority over a vehicle. Allows an agent to handle DMV activities and transfer ownership.
|
What is Power of Attorney?
Power of attorney designates an individual (agent) to handle someone else’s affairs (principal) for a fixed or indefinite time period.
A principal can appoint any adult they want as their agent. Once selected, an agent can perform any task for the principal if permitted in the power of attorney document.
Legal Definition
“Power of attorney” means a writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term power of attorney is used.
Source: Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA), Section 102(7) (page 8):
How to Get Power of Attorney (5 steps)
1. Granting Powers
The principal can select a power of attorney document based on the powers granted. If multiple powers are given, the principal can select more than one type.
Powers to Choose
- Financial
- Durable POA
- General POA
- Limited POA
- Real Estate POA
- Vehicle POA
- Health Care
- Advance Directive
- Living Will
- Medical POA
- Minor (Child)
- Tax
- Federal (IRS 2848)
- State POA
3. Completing the Form
A power of attorney document can be completed by the principal or a lawyer (recommended).
Estate Planning
It is common to complete other estate planning documents while making a power of attorney, such as creating a last will and testament or living trust.
5. Storage and Use
It is recommended that the agent and any interested parties be given a copy. The signed copy must be shown each time the agent acts on behalf of the principal.
Where to Store
- Attorney’s Office – An estate attorney or someone who would know if the principal became incapacitated.
- Cloud Storage – Upload and share on Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to family members as “view only” so it can’t be modified.
- Family Member – Specifically, someone who is the executor or beneficiary of the principal’s estate.
Sample
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I, [PRINCIPAL’S NAME], residing at [PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS], hereby appoint [AGENT’S NAME], residing at [AGENT’S ADDRESS], as my attorney-in-fact (hereinafter referred to as “Agent”) to act on my behalf in the following matters:
(initial all that apply)
- _____ – Financial Matters: To manage, control, and make decisions regarding my finances and property, including but not limited to banking transactions, investments, real estate transactions, and tax matters.
- _____ – Healthcare Decisions: To make decisions concerning my medical care, treatment options, and healthcare services, including the authority to consent to or refuse medical treatment, surgery, or hospitalization on my behalf.
- _____ – Legal Affairs: To handle legal matters and represent me in legal proceedings, including signing legal documents, contracts and agreements, and engaging legal counsel on my behalf.
- _____ – Personal Affairs: To manage and make decisions regarding my personal affairs, including accessing and managing personal records, obtaining government benefits, and handling day-to-day matters as necessary.
- _____ – Other Powers: [DESCRIBE]
This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect in the event of my: (check one)
☐ – Incapacitation. Therefore, this form is not durable.
☐ – Death. Therefore, this form is durable.
Signature and Date:
Principal’s Signature: _____________________ Date: ______________
Witnesses:
Witness #1 Signature: _____________________ Date: ______________
Witness #2 Signature: _____________________ Date: ______________
Agent Acceptance:
I, the aforementioned Agent named herein, accept the responsibilities and duties as the attorney-in-fact for the principal under this Power of Attorney.
Agent’s Signature: _____________________ Date: ______________