Updated August 08, 2023
A Connecticut general power of attorney (GPOA) enables a person to grant specified monetary-related powers to an agent. The agent selected is required to have a fiduciary duty to serve in the principal’s best interest during their appointment (C.G.S.A. § 1-350m). If the principal should become incapacitated, the GPOA will become invalid.
If you prefer to grant powers to someone that will continue in effect even after you can no longer make decisions, you should use the durable power of attorney instead.
Laws
- Statutes – Connecticut Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§§ 1-350 — 1-353b)
- Authority (C.G.S.A. § 1-351) – An agent under a power of attorney may act on behalf of the principal and exercise broad authority as granted by the agreement.
- Signing Requirements (C.G.S.A. § 1-350d) – Two (2) Witnesses and Notary Public.
How to Write
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
1 – Provide The Requested Information In The First Statement
The first statement will require five basic items to define the participants in this arrangement. The first space calls for the Full Name of the Principal to be reported.
The second required item requires the name of the Town where the Principal resides to be displayed.
The next item requiring definition is the Name of the Agent or Attorney-in-Fact to whom the Principal is granting Power or Authority to.
After documenting the Name of the Attorney-in-Fact, enter the name of the Town where the Attorney-in-Fact resides.
Finally, the final item to be defined in this statement is the name of the County where the Attorney-in-Fact resides.
2 – Define Any Restrictions To The Powers Granted
The next section will define the powers that may be granted to the named Attorney-in-Fact. Each of these subjects will have a corresponding checkbox on the same line to the right. If the Principal does not wish to grant the powers defined in one or more of these areas, then he or she must cross-out the statement and Initial the checkbox.
If the Principal does not intend to grant the Agent power over his or her Real Estate Transactions, then he or she must draw a line through the statement in Item A and initial the corresponding box.
In order to restrict the Agent from having power over the Principal’s Chattel and Goods Transactions, the Principal must cross out Item B and initial the checkbox.
The Principal must cross out Item C and initial its checkbox if he or she does not wish to grant the Agent powers over Bonds, Shares, and Commodity Transactions.
Item D must be crossed out and initialed by the Principal if the Agent should not have power over the Principal’s Banking Transactions.
If the Principal does not wish to grant powers over his or her Business Operating Transactions, then he or she must draw a line through Item E and initial the box.
If the Attorney-in-Fact should not have powers over the Principal’s Insurance Transactions, the Principal must strike out Item F and initial the appropriate box.
Item G should be crossed out and initialed by the Principal if he or she does not wish to grant Estate Transaction powers to the Attorney-in-Fact.
To restrict the Agent from having power or authority over the Principal’s Claims and Litigations, then Item H must be crossed out and initialed by the Principal.
The Attorney-in-Fact or Agent will be restricted from having power over the Principal’s Personal Relationships and Affairs if the Principal crossed out Item I and initials its checkbox.
The Principal will deny the Attorney-in-Fact power over his or her Benefits from Military Service by drawing a line through Item J and initialing the checkbox.
If the Principal does not wish to give the Agent power regarding his or her Records, Reports, and Statements, then Item K must be crossed out and the Principal must initial the box.
If there are other matters the Principal does not wish the Agent to have that have not been listed here, the Principal should cross out Item L then initial the box.
3 – Notarize & Witness The Signing
This form must be Dated and Signed by the Principal granting power in the presence of two (2) Witnesses and a Notary Public. To begin, the Principal must enter the Date of Signing in the statement “In Witness Whereof…” Each of the Witnesses must then sign this form and provide his or her Address.
The area below the Signature area should be tended to by the Notary Public providing the notarization seal.