 | General (Financial) Power of Attorney Forms | PDF Templates |
General power of attorney allows an individual to select someone else to handle financial actions on their behalf. The actions that may be conducted by the selected individual, also known as an “Agent” or “Attorney-in-Fact”, can be isolated to one or a few things or it may be a broad power to act on anything financially related to the principal.
Durable Power of Attorney – Unlike the durable form, the general does not have powers that remain in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated, or, not able to think rationally due to a health condition. Therefore, if the principal would like to have these powers presented, they should use the durable version.
General POA Forms by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- 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
How to Write
Step 1 – The Principal must download the document and type in the name of State in which they reside
Step 2 – In the first paragraph, the following information must be supplied in this order:
- Principal’s Name
- Principal’s Street Address
- Principal’s City
- Principal’s State
- Name of Attorney-in-Fact
- Attorney-in-Fact’s Street Address
- Attorney-in-Fact’s City
- Attorney-in-Fact’s State
Step 3 – Powers – Principal must initial next to each of the following acts/powers the Attorney-in-Fact will carry out/acquire:
- Power to Make Payments or Collect Monies Owed
- Power to Acquire, Lease and Sell Personal Property
- Power to Acquire, Lease and Sell Real Property
- Management Powers
- Banking Powers
- Tax Powers
- Safe-Deposit Boxes
- Gift Making Powers
- Lending and Borrowing
- Contracts
- HIPAA
- Power to Hire and Pay for Services
- Reimbursement of Attorney-in-Fact
- Power to Sue Third Parties Who Fail to Act Pursuant to Power of Attorney
- Other (and enter the power/act in the available fields)
Step 4 – Interpretation and Governing Law – Principal must read paragraph and enter name of State in which the power of attorney is being written
Step 5 – Effective Date and Termination – Principal must initial next to the following applicable options:
- Effective upon the date of this document
- Effective upon specific future date (date must be specified)
- Termination on specific date (date must be specified)
- Termination when revocation has been written
- Termination upon incapacitation
Step 6 – Third Party Reliance – The Principal must supply the following:
- The Date of the Signature
- Principal’s Signature
- Principal’s Printed Name
Step 7 – Acceptance of Appointment – The Attorney-in-Fact must accept the appointment by supplying the following:
- Attorney-in-Facts Name in paragraph field
- Attorney-in-Fact’s Signature
- Attorney-in-Fact’s Printed Name
Step 8 – Witness – Witnesses must read the paragraph, provide their signatures and submit their addresses
Step 9 – Acknowledgement of Notary Public – Section should be left blank so the Notary Public can submit the following:
- State
- County
- Date
- Name of Principal
- Signature
- Date of commission expiration