What Is an Alabama Minor (Child) Power of Attorney?
An Alabama minor (child) power of attorney lets parents temporarily assign decision-making authority over their child’s health care, education, and general care. The parent keeps primary custody and responsibility for the child’s well-being.
This document allows someone to oversee a child’s decisions when the parent is unavailable, whether due to jail time, travel, or medical issues. However, it comes with restrictions. The appointed agent cannot approve a marriage for the minor or agree to the minor’s adoption. Plus, the agent must abide by all terms outlined by the parent.
An Alabama minor POA, sometimes called a Delegation of Powers by Parent(s) or Guardian(s), is not court-ordered. The parent signs it voluntarily and may revoke it at any time with a revocation form.
Expiration of the Delegation of Parental Powers in Alabama
The delegation of parental powers in Alabama is valid for up to one year (AL Code § 26-2A-7(a)). If you want the powers to last longer, you must create and execute a new minor POA document when the original one expires. Even though you can create a new Alabama power of attorney for a minor, it’s not a permanent solution for custody.
Signing & Recording Requirements for an Alabama Minor POA
The parent or legal guardian must sign an Alabama minor power of attorney in the presence of a notary public (AL Code § 26-1A-105). Notary acknowledgment confirms the identity of the signer and ensures their signature is genuine.
Once the principal signs the document, they should distribute it to the child’s school or healthcare provider. Recording the document with an official state agency isn’t required, but it’s highly recommended. Consider recording it with the probate judge in your county to create a verifiable public record.
Check with your county (like Dekalb County or Mobile County) to determine the exact recording fees. It tends to be between $10 and $15 for the first page, with additional fees of around $1.50-$5.00 for each extra page.
Sample Alabama Power of Attorney for a Minor Child
View an example of an Alabama power of attorney for a minor child to see what it looks like. Then, use Legal Templates’s guided questionnaire to create a customized document. Download it in PDF or Word format and share it with the relevant parties.
