Free Power of Attorney Form

Table of Contents

1. Power of Attorney PDF Sample
   • Free State-Specific Templates
2. The Definition: What is a Power of Attorney (POA)?
3. Different Types of POAs
   • Financial vs. Medical
   • Special (Limited) vs. General
   • Non-Durable vs. Durable vs. Springing (Conditional)
4. How to Protect This Document from “Powerlessness”
5. How to Terminate, Void, and Revoke a Power of Attorney Form
6. The Consequences of Not Using One
7. What Should be Included in a Power of Attorney?
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Power of Attorney PDF Sample

The power of attorney (POA) sample below gives “Agent” Elizabeth Scooner the authority to make financial decisions in the event that “Principal” Jack Scooner is incapacitated. Elizabeth has the authority to handle issues dealing with Jack’s property, stocks, insurance, and business.

Download a Free State-Specific Template

POA documents are state-dependent. We have gathered all 50 states’ financial POA forms, plus the District of Columbia, for you to download at your convenience for free.

This document will allow you to appoint an agent or attorney-in-fact to make non-medical decisions for you. If you would like a free medical POA instead, please visit our page here.

If you are not sure how to customize your templates, we recommend using our builder, as it will guide you through the process and ask you the appropriate questions.

Download Financial POA (Durable) Templates by State

Simply click the state that you live in to download the document.

2. The Definition: What is a Power of Attorney (POA)?

This written document officially recognizes a legally binding relationship between two parties — a principal and an agent. The agent is given the power to manage the personal, business, or legal affairs of the principal. Further, the agent has a fiduciary duty to act in the principal’s best financial interest and in accordance with his or her wishes.

Powers of attorney are commonly used when someone wants the peace of mind that their financial or health decisions will be made by someone they trust.

You may need this form if you are:

• Over the age of 18 years old
• Military personnel being deployed overseas  
• Traveling abroad for an extended period of time
• Diagnosed with a chronic condition or life threatening illness
• Growing wiser and older but concerned about your current health
• Married and want your spouse to have legal authority over property you own
• Engaged in a high risk profession (i.e., emergency firefighter or member of police force)

3. Different Types of POAs

A power of attorney can be used to handle a variety of situations, and can be customized based on your need. You can grant a POA related to different areas of your life, with varying degrees of power for the agent, and for any timeframe that you desire.

Financial vs. Medical POAs — What’s the difference?

Non-medical matters such as those related to business or your personal affairs can be covered in a financial POA. Medical decisions such as those related to your health care can be covered by a medical POA. Most individuals have separate documents for general matters and health care issues.

Financial

A financial power of attorney allows you to name your business or personal agent, someone who will make decisions or take actions on your behalf if you cannot. Your business or personal agent will make sure that your wishes are communicated to and taken into account by other parties. If you are out of the country while closing a business deal, paying a professional to manage your assets, keeping a personal assistant to do all of your banking and errands, or allowing your child to travel with a family friend, you can grant an agent power of attorney to sign documents on your behalf and/or make decisions for you.

Medical

A medical power of attorney allows you to name your health agent, someone who will make health decisions for you if you cannot. Your health care agent will also ensure that your health care providers give you the care you wish to receive. You can also require that your health care agent communicate in any manner with you about any specific proposed health care. For example, you may still be able to communicate by blinking your eyes.

Many states, however, combine a living will and power of attorney into one “advance directive” form.

Financial vs. Health Care POA

Special (Limited) vs. General POAs – What’s the difference?

A power of attorney can be created for different purposes with varying levels of authority granted to the agent. The agent can be tasked with acting as your agent for one specific action or in general for all affairs pertaining a certain aspect of your life.

Special (Limited)

A special or limited POA gives an agent the power to act on your behalf, but only specific powers. You can create several special POAs, with different agents granted different powers.

Here is a list of some of the specific powers you can grant to your agent:

• Sign checks
• Withdraw money
• Make a gift
• Create, amend, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust
• Create or change rights of survivorship
• Create or change a beneficiary designation
• Authorize another person to exercise authority granted by the power of attorney
• Waive the principal’s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan
• Exercise fiduciary powers that the principal has authority to delegate

General

A general POA gives an agent broad power to act on your behalf, taking any action or making any decision that would normally fall to you.

Here is a list of some of the general powers you can grant to your agent:

• Sell real property or tangible personal property
• Buy and sell stocks and bonds
• Handle all banking
• Operate a business
• Buy insurance and annuities
• Manage estates, trusts, and other beneficiary interests
• Handle all claims and litigation
• Manage all personal and family affairs
• Prepare and file taxes

Special vs. General Care POA

Non-Durable vs. Durable vs. Springing (Conditional) POAs — What’s the difference?

Depending on your circumstances, you may want your agent to begin acting on your behalf immediately using a non-durable or durable power of attorney, or at a later date using a springing (aka “contingent”) power of attorney. These variations answer two questions:

1. When should it take effect?
2. When should it end?

Non-Durable

A non-durable power of attorney is usually limited to specific situations and becomes effective immediately upon signing. It automatically ends when the specific situation is no longer in effect or when you die or become incapacitated. You can also rescind rescind it at any time.

Durable

A durable power of attorney also becomes effective immediately upon signing, however it allows the Agent to continue acting on behalf of the Principal even when he or she becomes incapacitated. This type ends automatically when you die, but you can also rescind it, as long you are not incapacitated.

Springing (Conditional)

A springing or conditional POA only goes into effect if a certain event or condition occurs. It can end at a specific time, when you become incapacitated or when you die.

Non-Durable vs. Durable vs. Springing Comparison

4. How to Protect This Document from “Powerlessness”

If you take the time to create a power of attorney, you want to make sure that it will be effective. There are situations where your document may be rejected, or “powerless” if you aren’t careful. Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure your POA won’t be “powerless”:

1. Use a state-specific form – Each state has different laws and statutes governing this document. Our state-specific forms are customized for each particular state.
2. Make sure you have all signatures and authorizations – Some banks and financial institutions have specific requirements as to who needs to sign the document.
3. Keep it up-to-date – If your state has rewritten its laws or your POA is more than several years, it may be considered “stale” and may need to be updated.
4. Get it witnessed and notarized – Sign your power of attorney in front of witnesses, stating that you were competent and signed the document voluntarily. Also make sure to get your document authenticated by a notary public.

5. How to Terminate, Void, and Revoke a Power of Attorney

If you decide you no longer want a power of attorney, you can take the following active measures to terminate it, provided you are still legally competent:

• prepare a revocation of power of attorney
• destroy the document
• follow any termination procedures detailed in the document

The document also automatically terminates when any of the following occur:

• the principal dies
• the principal becomes incapacitated (if non-durable)
• the agent dies or is declared legally incompetent and there is no successor named

If you decide to void a power of attorney, you should notify any banks, businesses, or other institutions that might be affected.

6. The Consequences of Not Using One

A power of attorney can help make your life much easier by allowing someone you trust to take certain actions on your behalf. Without this document, you might not be able to travel out of town, make certain investments, or handle business or personal affairs.

In addition, if you ever become incapacitated, without a POA, even if you have a spouse, the court may need to step in and appoint a guardian or conservator for you. The process of appointing a guardian is costly and requires the guardian to formally report your situation to the court each year. CNN Money estimates that the process of obtaining a court appointed guardian exceeds $1,000. If this is the situation you find yourself in now, please read our guide about getting guardianship over your elderly parent here.

Instead, a POA allows you to take back control and proactively choose who YOU want to represent your best interests. By taking the time to create this important document, you can prevent both individual and familial suffering.

Preventable Suffering: Individual and Familial

The AARP, Inc., formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, also provides a useful FAQ about the importance of having this document.

7. What Should be Included in a Power of Attorney?

A simple POA will identify the following basic elements:

• Agent(s): a responsible and trustworthy person acting on your behalf
• Principal: person assisted with personal, business, or legal matters
• Grant of Authority: general or specific authority to take certain actions
• Effective Date: when the the form effectively begins, usually immediately
• Signatures: the Principal and a Notary must sign the document

As a reference, a power of attorney, principal, and agent have other names:

Other Names