Updated January 15, 2023
A Rhode Island minor power of attorney is a document that allows a parent or legal guardian of a child to delegate the authority to an agent to handle their child’s affairs. Once it is filled out, this document will spring into action under the directives the parent lists.
Laws – No Statutes
Temporary Guardianship (Form PC-2.1) – According to Chapter 33-15.1 (Guardianship of Minors), the State of Rhode Island allows temporary guardianship of a minor child by submitting Form PC-2.1 to the respective County Family Court Office.
How to Write
1 – This Form Can Be Filled Out To Delegate An Attorney-in-Fact With Guardian Powers
When it is time to set up the appointment of an Attorney-in-Fact’s Guardian Authority over a Principal’s Child/Minor, you can download the template form on this page (select one of the buttons under the image).
2 – This Power of Attorney Will Need To Have All Its Parties Clearly Identified
The initial task of this form will be to name the Minor or Child that will be in the care of the intended Guardian if/when it is required. This will be handled at the onset of Section I. Record the Name of this Child/Minor on the first blank space in this section. 
The Child or Minor’s Birth Date will also need to be recorded in a clear fashion as further verification of his or her Identity. Three blank lines have been supplied so that the Child’s Calendar Birth Day, Month, and Year can all be placed in the statement’s context. 
The next individual that must be identified is the Parent or Current Legal Guardian of the Child/Minor. This person must be fully identified. Use the first blank line after the word “I” to document the Full Name of one of the Child’s Parent or Guardian. Immediately after naming this individual you must place a mark in either the first checkbox to indicate this person is the Child/Minor’s Parent or the second checkbox to identify this person as the Child/Minor’s legal Court Appointed Guardian. 
The blank lines after “…A Street Address Of,” “…City Of,” and “…State Of” will call for the Parent or Current Guardian’s Legal Residential Address
If there is more than one Parent of Court Appointed Guardian, this person must be identified in the same fashion as well. The next statement is available for this task. It may be left blank if there is no additional Parent or Court Appointed Guardian required to consent to this delegation of Power. If there are more than two, record his or her Name, Role, and Address on an attachment.
The last individual who needs to be identified will be Section II. Here the Guardian Attorney-in-Fact will be named. Supply the First, Middle, and Last Name of the individual who will be appointed Guardian Powers to the first blank space in Section II. The second blank space will request that the intended Guardian’s relationship with the Child/Minor be supplied. 
Once the intended Guardian/Attorney-in-Fact has been named and his or her relationships have been disclosed, use the last three blank lines in Section III to report his or her Complete Address.
3 – The Granted Powers Must Be Defined By Nature And When They Are Effective
The kind of Powers being delegated will be defined in Section III. Here the Principal will need to initial one of the statements labeled “A” or “B.” If the Principal initials the statement labeled “A” then marks the corresponding checkbox, he or she will be appointing the Attorney-in-Fact with the full extent of Guardian Powers over the Child the State of Rhode Island will allow. 
If the Principal wishes to limit the Guardian Powers being appointed to the Attorney-in-Fact, he or she must initial the second statement and define the exact decisions and actions the Guardian may engage in using Principal Guardian Authority. 
Next the period framing when the Attorney-in-Fact can exert Guardian Authority will need to be defined. This will be accomplished through some additional action from the Parent/Guardian. Begin by entering the Start Date when the intended Guardian/Attorney-in-Fact in the first statement of Section IV. 
Once the Parent/Guardian has defined when the Powers in this document will be delivered, he or she must also define when they will terminate. The Principal can do this by selecting one of the three choices. If there is a preferred Date of Termination, the Principal should record it in Choice A, then initial and check this statement. 
The Principal can opt for having the Guardian Powers delivered only if he or she is disabled. If so, the Principal should initial and check Choice “B”. 
Finally, if the Principal only wants these Power to go into effect upon passing away, then he or she must initial and check Choice C
4 – The Powers Defined Here Will Only Be Delivered If Each Of The Minor’s Parent/Guardian Signs This Form
Every Parent or Current Guardian must sign his or her Name in Section V. Here three blank lines have been provided, “Parent/Court Appointed Guardian Signature,” “Print Name,” and “Date” have been furnished in two sections so that each Parent or Guardian can sign his or her Name, print his or her Name, and enter the Date of his or her Signature. Every party that currently holds Guardian Powers over the child or minor must provide these items after this form has been filled out.
5 – Additional Signatures Are Required To Finalize This Document
The “Acceptance By Attorney-in-Fact” segment of this document will need the direct attention of the intended Guardian. He or she must sign the blank line bearing the “Attorney-in-Fact’s Signature” label then print his or her Name and record his or her Date of Signature in the spaces provided below this.
There will be two additional statements, each one an Affirmation statement that must have the name of one of the Witnesses to the Principal Signature(s) recorded on the first blank line. Each Witness must find the Affirmation with his or her Name, read it, then Sign it. Additionally, the Printed Name and the Signature Date of each Witness must be reported by that Witness. 
Finally, once all these items have been signed, this document may be turned over to the Notary Public who has witnessed the Principal Signing. He or she will notarize this document.