A power of attorney (POA) can be set up for matters including business, medical care, and real estate, allowing an authorized third party to manage these issues on your behalf. Of the numerous types of powers of attorney valid in Maryland, choose the POA template that best suits your requirements.
Table of Contents
- Maryland Powers of Attorney
- Durable • Medical • Financial / General • Limited
- Real Estate • Tax • Minor (Child) • DMV
- How to Obtain Power of Attorney in Maryland
Durable Power of Attorney – Maryland
A power of attorney remains in force when the principal becomes incapacitated only if it has been set up as a durable power of attorney.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
Powers of attorney created under Maryland law are presumed to be durable. If you wish for the powers transferred to expire on your incapacitation, your POA document must state so explicitly.
Medical Power of Attorney – Maryland
A Maryland medical power of attorney (or a Maryland advance directive) is a useful legal instrument for setting out the medical care you wish to receive in the event that you are unable to make decisions about your care yourself.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
Financial / General Power of Attorney – Maryland
A financial power of attorney enables a trusted third party to take care of your financial affairs for you.
Because the powers pertain to “general” matters as opposed to medical matters (see above) — and also because the powers assigned are rather broad, as opposed to a limited power of attorney (see below) this form may also be referred to as a general power of attorney.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
Limited Power of Attorney – Maryland
While a general power of attorney grants sweeping authority to an agent to manage a principal’s affairs, these powers are more focused and narrowed in a limited power of attorney.
Below are the numerous types of limited POAs that may be of use to you:
Real Estate Power of Attorney – Maryland
You can set up a limited power of attorney for property that restricts your agent to acting on your behalf for property and real estate affairs.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
On downloading the form, you’ll find that the document has a list of powers. To create a real estate power of attorney, strike out the powers you do not wish to transfer to your agent, and sign your initials against the other powers that you seek to give your agent.
Tax Power of Attorney – Maryland
The authority to manage another person’s tax affairs may be granted to a third party using a legal document called a tax power of attorney. In Maryland, this form is known as Form 548.
Tax Form 548
Download: Adobe PDF
Maryland Power of Attorney for Minor Child
The legal document used to nominate a third party to take temporary parental responsibility for a child younger than 18 years is called a parental power of attorney or power of attorney for a minor child.
Maryland DMV Power of Attorney
A power of attorney designed to give an agent the authority to manage a principal’s motor vehicle affairs is called a DMV power of attorney.
Maryland DMV Form VR-470
Download: Adobe PDF
How to Obtain Power of Attorney in Maryland
Sections 17-101 — 17-204 of the Estates and Trusts Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland outlines rules for durable powers of attorney within the state. All forms on this page are in accordance with this article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
To get a power of attorney, use one of the forms below:
Durable • Medical • Financial / General • Limited
Real Estate • Tax • Minor (Child) • DMV
Maryland Power of Attorney Requirements
For a power of attorney to be valid, it must adhere to the Maryland Estates and Trusts Article and adhere to these basic requirements:
- The Maryland POA document must list the:
- full contact information and signature of the principal
- name of the agent(s)
- date the agreement is made
- powers granted
- when the powers begin and end
- The power of attorney form must be signed in the presence of a notary public
- Witness requirements: At least two witnesses must also be present when notarizing and signing a Maryland power of attorney form.
