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Home Personal & Family Documents Power of Attorney

Free Power of Attorney (POA) Forms

Use our Power of Attorney forms to let someone make legal and financial decisions for you.

Updated January 18, 2023 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

A Power of Attorney form is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust, called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact,” to manage your affairs if you cannot do so.

You, the “principal”, specify in the form what actions your agent can take on your behalf, such as selling property, depositing checks, or filing taxes. You also decide whether your agent can start acting on your behalf immediately or only if you become incapacitated (unable to make your own decisions due to injury or disability).

In most cases, you’ll need to download a state-specific form to ensure your POA follows all your state’s requirements (otherwise, it won’t be legally binding).

Power of Attorney Forms by State
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • 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
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
Table of Contents
  • Power of Attorney Forms - By Type
  • What is Power of Attorney?
  • How to Write a Power of Attorney Form
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney Forms – By Type

If you’re still figuring out what type of Power of Attorney you need, look at one of the generic templates below to get started.

General/financial power of attorney form

General/Financial Power of Attorney

This simple power of attorney form allows you to give general or specific powers to an agent to make financial decisions for you, such as operating a business, buying or selling a property, accessing accounts, and handling investments.

Our form can be made non-durable (your agent only makes decisions for a limited period of time and it ends if you become incapacitated) or durable (your agent makes decisions if you become incapacitated).

PDF Word
Durable power of attorney form

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA)

A durable power of attorney form focuses on how an agent can act on your behalf if you become incapacitated. This form provides additional clauses, and details specific areas you can grant power over in the event you can’t care for yourself (for example, if you had a stroke or fell into a coma).

PDF Word
Medical power of attorney form

Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA)

A medical power of attorney is a type of durable power of attorney that specifically allows an agent to make health care decisions for you if you become incapacitated. These decisions can include what treatment you receive, whether your organs are donated, and if you are kept alive on life support.

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Limited power of attorney form

Limited (Special) Power of Attorney (LPOA)

A limited power of attorney form allows you to give limited powers to an agent for a specific task (such as a single real estate transaction), and typically ends when the task has been completed.

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Springing power of attorney form

Springing Power of Attorney

This type of power of attorney “springs” into effect in a certain situation, and ends at a time you specify. For example, you can give someone authority to pay your taxes while you are deployed overseas in the military.

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What is Power of Attorney?

Power of Attorney (POA) refers to the legal authority to act for someone else in specific personal affairs and the name of the legal document that gives the authority to someone else.

An individual (the “principal”) chooses another person (the “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”) to make confident decisions on their behalf and fills out the Power of Attorney paperwork with essential details about the agent and what actions they may take on behalf of the principal.

For example, elderly or sick parents may create this document for a child or loved one, so they can carry out their financial affairs, handle estate planning, and make medical decisions if they become unable to (e.g., if they get dementia or become terminally ill).

If you become incapacitated without designating a principal, a loved one or family member may need legal guardianship from a court to help with your affairs. [1]

What are the different types of Power of Attorney?

The following are the different types of Power of Attorney:

  • General (financial) — allows someone to make financial and business decisions on your behalf
  • Durable — goes into effect if you become “incapacitated” (for example, in a coma) and can’t make decisions yourself.
  • Medical — allows someone you choose to make medical decisions for you.
  • Limited (Special) — gives power to someone to make only the specific decisions you name on the form.
  • Springing — starts and ends when you specify so an agent can complete a specific task.

Because laws vary across the US, the type of POA you need and its format depends on where you live. Make sure to get a form specific to your state.

How Do I Get Power of Attorney?

Here’s how to obtain a Power of Attorney:

  1. First, the principal decides whether to give someone power of attorney and who they want their agent to be. At this stage, it’s essential for both parties to communicate fully and for the principal to understand the consequences of giving legal power to a representative.
  2. Next, the principal defines the scope and whether it is general, medical, or specific tasks. They also need to clarify when they wish the agent to start (and stop) acting on their behalf.
  3. For the document to take effect, the principal must fill it out and sign it.

Where Can I Get a Power of Attorney Form?

You can get a Power of Attorney form from the following places:

  • your state government offices or websites (e.g., the Department of Health Services)
  • our free online POA form builder
  • have a lawyer draft one for you

You can also check with your local bank. Many financial institutions have powers of attorney available.

How to Write a Power of Attorney Form

Follow these steps to learn how to write a Power of Attorney form using our general/financial template as an example, and complete all your paperwork by yourself without hiring a lawyer:

Step 1: Designate an Agent

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 1: Designate an Agent

First, write your name and address at the top of the document (you are the principal). Then, write the name and address of the trusted individual you choose to be your agent/attorney-in-fact.

On this part of the form, you can also nominate a second person to be your agent if the first is unwilling or unable to fulfill their duties.

Step 2: Grant General Authority and Specific Authority

The second part of the document allows you to choose which powers you give your agent and decide which decisions they can make for you.

First, write your initials next to the subjects you’d like to give general authority over, allowing your agent to make overall decisions on your behalf:

Filling out a Power of Attorney Form Step 2: Grant General Authority

Next, initial the subjects you’d like to give specific authority over. This means that your agent cannot handle these critical and sensitive affairs unless you initiate them here:

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 2: Grant Specific Authority

Underneath, you can also include special instructions. For example, you can explain how you want to limit the power you are giving to your agent.

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 2: Write Special Instructions

Step 3: Set the Duration of Power of Attorney

Our general/financial POA lets you decide whether the power of authority stops if you become incapacitated and unable to make decisions or if it continues after.

On the form under “Termination,” choose non-durable or durable POA:

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 3: Choose Durable or Non Durable

If a Power of Attorney is non-durable, you can also nominate a guardian in advance to handle your affairs if you become incapacitated. This step is unnecessary if the form is durable.

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 3: Nominate a Guardian

Step 4: Sign the Power of Attorney

The final step is to sign and date your POA paperwork.

Depending on your state, a power of attorney may need to be signed by up to 2 witnesses and/or a notary. Make sure to check the complete signing requirements for your state. [2]

Filling Out a Power of Attorney Form Step 4: Sign the Paperwork

Frequently Asked Questions About Power of Attorney

Can I do a Power of Attorney myself without a lawyer?

Yes, you can do a Power of Attorney yourself. If you use a form that meets your state’s requirements, you can complete it and create a legally-binding document without hiring a lawyer. You can also use our online free step-by-step document builder.

Does a Power of Attorney need notarized?

Yes, in most cases, a Power of Attorney needs to be notarized. In many states, this document needs to be acknowledged by a notary public to be legally binding. Check your state laws to determine if your form needs to be notarized.

How do I revoke Power of Attorney?

You revoke Power of Attorney by:

  1. preparing a Revocation of Power of Attorney
  2. destroying the POA document, and its copies, that you wish to revoke (as long as you never gave copies to anyone or told your agent)
  3. following any termination procedures mentioned in the POA document
  4. creating a new Power of Attorney that revokes the previous

You can revoke the document at any time (as long as you are legally competent). You should also notify the old agent and any banks, businesses, and other institutions affected by the revocation.

Does Power of Attorney end at death?

Yes, Power of Attorney ends at death.

You can’t use a Power of Attorney after death because it expires when the principal dies. At this point, a Last Will and Testament becomes effective.

Does power of attorney expire?

Yes, Power of Attorney expires.

When completing the form, you can set the date the Power of Attorney expires. If an expiration date is not written on the document, the document expires when either:

  • the principal dies
  • the principal becomes incapacitated (unless the POA is durable)
  • the agent dies or is declared legally incompetent, and no alternate agent is named in the POA

Can a Power of Attorney be changed without consent?

No, a Power of Attorney cannot be changed without the principal’s consent. The principal must agree to change the powers given to the agent and then create a new form.

Can a Power of Attorney change a Will?

No, a Power of Attorney cannot change a Will. A POA gives an agent authority to make legal decisions on behalf of the principal that is in their best interest, but it doesn’t override a last will and testament.

How to Get Power of Attorney for a Parent?

To get a power of attorney for your parent, you first need to ask them to name you as their agent on a power of attorney form and take the necessary steps to ensure that third parties recognize the document. If your parent is incapacitated and cannot make rational decisions, you can consider pursuing adult guardianship or conservatorship.

Legal Templates uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. How to get a guardianship and/or conservatorship. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/lce/resources/dc-how-to-get-a-guardianship-or-conservatorship.pdf
  2. 50 State (Plus D.C.) Survey of Powers of Attorney. (August, 2019). https://www.actec.org/assets/1/6/Douglass_Powers_of_Attorney_Survey.pdf?hssc=1

Related Will & Estate Planning Documents

  • Advance Directive: Declare your health care wishes if you’re incapacitated and can’t make your own decisions.
  • Revocation of Power of Attorney: A revocation of power of attorney form lets you revoke or cancel the authority previously granted to an agent in a power of attorney.
  • Living Will (Health Care Directive): Define your healthcare treatment and end-of-life decisions.
  • DNR Form: States that you refuse resuscitation via CPR in the event that your heart stops beating or you stop breathing.
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Free Power of Attorney (POA) Forms

General/financial power of attorney form

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