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
What is a General Power of Attorney (GPOA)?
General power of attorney is the act of allowing another individual, known as the agent, to make specified financial decisions on the principal’s behalf. The form can be customized to match the specific financial needs of the principal.
“Incapacity” Definition
“Incapacity” means [the] inability of an individual to manage property or business affairs because the individual:
(A) has an impairment in the ability to receive and evaluate information or make
or communicate decisions even with the use of technological assistance; or
(B) is: (i) missing; (ii) detained, including incarcerated in a penal system; or (iii) outside the United States and unable to return.[2]
Powers Granted
- Power to make or collect payment;
- Power to acquire, lease, or sell real estate;
- Deposit or withdraw on bank accounts;
- Motor vehicle ownership or registration;
- Gifts;
- Filing taxes;
- Borrowing or lending money;
- Signing contracts;
- Run a business;
- Handle insurance claims;
- Make legal decisions; and
- Access a safe deposit box.
Signing Requirements
By State
| State | Signing Requirements | Statute |
| Alabama | Notary public | Ala.Code 1975 § 26-1A-105 |
| Alaska | Notary public | AS § 13.26.600 |
| Arizona | One witness and notary public | A.R.S. § 14-5501 |
| Arkansas | Notary public | A.C.A. § 28-68-105 |
| California | Two witnesses or a notary public | Prob. Code § 4121 |
| Colorado | Notary public | C.R.S.A. § 15-14-705 |
| Connecticut | Two witnesses and a notary public | C.G.S.A. § 1-350d |
| Delaware | One witness and a notary public | 12 Del. C. § 49A-105 |
| District of Columbia | Notary public | D.C. Code § 21–2601.05 |
| Florida | Two witnesses and a notary public | F.S.A. § 709.2105 |
| Georgia | One witness and a notary public | Ga. Code Ann., § 10-6B-5 |
| Hawaii | Notary public | HRS § 551E-3 |
| Idaho | Notary public | I.C. § 15-12-105 |
| Illinois | One witness and a notary public | 755 ILCS 45/3-3 |
| Indiana | Two witnesses and a notary public | IC 30-5-4-1 |
| Iowa | Notary public | I.C.A. § 633B.105 |
| Kansas | Notary public | K.S.A. 58-652 |
| Kentucky | Notary public | KRS § 457.050 |
| Louisiana | Principal (only) | La. Civ. Code art. 2993 |
| Maine | Notary public | 18-C M.R.S.A. § 5-905 |
| Maryland | Two witnesses and a notary public | MD Code, Estates and Trusts, § 17-110, § 17-202 |
| Massachusetts | Two witnesses | M.G.L.A. 190B § 5-103 |
| Michigan | Two witnesses or a notary public | M.C.L.A. 700-5501 |
| Minnesota | Notary public | M.S.A. § 523.01, M.S.A. § 523.23 |
| Mississippi | Principal (only) | Miss. Code Ann. § 87-3-101, et seq. |
| Missouri | Notary public | V.A.M.S. 404.705 |
| Montana | Notary public | MCA 72-31-305 |
| Nebraska | Notary public | Neb. Rev. St. § 30-4005 |
| Nevada | Notary public | N.R.S. 162A.220 |
| New Hampshire | Notary public | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 564-E:105 |
| New Jersey | Notary public | N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.9 |
| New Mexico | Notary public | N.M.S.A. 1978, § 45-5B-105 |
| New York | Two witnesses and a notary public | G.O.B. Law § 5-1501B |
| North Carolina | Notary public | N.C.G.S.A. § 32C-1-105 |
| North Dakota | Principal (only) | N/A |
| Ohio | Notary public | R.C. § 1337.25 |
| Oklahoma | Notary public | 58 Okl. St. Ann. § 3005 |
| Oregon | Principal (only) | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | Two witnesses and a notary public | 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5601 |
| Rhode Island | Notary public | Gen. Laws 1956, § 18-16-2 |
| South Carolina | Two witnesses and a notary public | S.C. Code § 62-8-105 |
| South Dakota | Notary public | SDCL § 59-12-4 |
| Tennessee | Principal (only) | N/A |
| Texas | Notary public | V.T.C.A., Estates Code § 751.0021 |
| Utah | Notary public | U.C.A. 1953 § 75-9-105 |
| Vermont | Notary public | 14 V.S.A. § 4005 |
| Virginia | Notary public | VA Code Ann. § 64.2-1603 |
| Washington | Two witnesses and a notary public | RCWA 11.125.050 |
| West Virginia | Notary public | WV Code, § 39B-1-105 |
| Wisconsin | Notary public | W.S.A. 244.05 |
| Wyoming | Notary public | 1977 § 3-9-105 |