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Power of Attorney Requirements by State 2024
The power of attorney is a legal document that grants someone else the authority to act on your behalf in various matters, including financial, legal, and healthcare decisions. This delegated authority is crucial, especially in situations where the individual may become incapacitated or unable to make decisions independently.
Across different states in the United States, the requirements and regulations for establishing a power of attorney can vary significantly. However, there are some commonalities and key considerations to keep in mind:
- Durability: In many states, durability is not automatically presumed, meaning that additional language must be included in the power of attorney document to make it durable. This ensures that the authority granted to the agent remains valid even if the principal becomes incapacitated.
- Specific Powers: Some states require specific powers to be expressly granted in the power of attorney form. Without these specified powers, they are not assumed to have been granted. This specificity helps to clarify the scope of authority delegated to the agent.
- Legislation: Each state has its own set of statutes and regulations governing the creation and execution of powers of attorney. These laws outline the requirements for drafting, executing, and revoking power of attorney documents, ensuring consistency and legal validity.
- In states in which durability is not presumed, durability language must be included to create a durable power of attorney.
- The column 'Specific Powers Form Needed' indicates states where legislation requires certain specific powers to be expressly granted in the Power of Attorney form. Otherwise, they are not assumed to have been granted.
State | Legislation Based on UPOAA | UPOAA Legal Code | Presumption of Durability | Presumption of Durability Legal Code | Specific Powers Form Needed | Specific Powers Form Needed Legal Code | Springing POA Allowed | Springing POA Allowed Legal Code | Statutory Form | Statutory Form Legal Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Ala. Code §§ 26-1a-101 to 26-1a-404 | Yes | Ala. Code § 26-1A-104 | Yes | Ala. Code § 26-1A-201 | Yes | Ala. Code § 26-1A-109 | Yes | Ala. Code § 26-1A-301 |
| Alaska | No | Alaska Stat. Ann. §§ 13.26.600 to 13.26.680 | No | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 13.26.675 | Yes | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 13.26.645 | Yes | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 13.26.675 | Yes | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 13.26.645 |
| Arizona | No | A.R.S. §§ 14-5501 to 14-5507 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. A.R.S. § 14-5501(A), (B) | No | Yes | A.R.S. § 14-5501 | No | ||
| Arkansas | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. §§ 28-68-101 to 28-68-405 | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 28-68-104 | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 28-68-201(a) | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 28-68-109 | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 28-68-301 |
| California | No | Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4000 to 4545 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. Cal. Prob. Code § 4124 | Yes | Cal. Prob. Code § 4264 | Yes | Cal. Prob. Code § 4129 | Yes | Cal. Prob. Code § 4401 |
| Colorado | Yes | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 15-14-701 to 15-14-745 | Yes | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-14-704 | Yes | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-14-724(1) | Yes | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-14-709 | Yes | Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-14-741 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-350 to 1-359 | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 1-350c | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 1-351(a) | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 1-350h | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 1-352 |
| Delaware | No | 12 Del. C. §§ 49A-101 to 49A-301 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. 12 Del. C. § 49A-104 | Yes | 12 Del. C. § 49A-201 | Yes | 12 Del. C. § 49A-109 | Yes | 12 Del. C. § 49A-301 |
| District of Columbia | Yes | D.C. Code §§ 21-2601.01 to 21-2604.03 | Yes | D.C. Code § 21-2601.04 | Yes | D.C. Code § 21-2602.01 | Yes | D.C. Code § 21-2601.09 | Yes | D.C. Code § 21-2603.01 |
| Florida | No | §§ 709.2101 to 709.2402, Fla. Stat. | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. § 709.2104, Fla. Stat. | Yes | Yes, and each specific power must be separately initialed or signed to be validly authorized. § 709.2202(1), Fla. Stat. | No | Springing powers are generally ineffective other than: Powers executed before October 1, 2011 in certain circumstances (§ 709.2108(2), Fla. Stat). Military powers of attorney that are contingent on deployment (§ 709.2106(4), Fla. Stat.). | No | |
| Georgia | Yes | O.C.G.A. §§ 10-6B-1 to 10-6B-81 | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-4 | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-40(a)(1) | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-9 | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-70 |
| Hawaii | Yes | HRS §§ 551E-1 to 551E-63 | Yes | HRS § 551E-3(a) | Yes | HRS § 551E-31(a) | Yes | HRS § 551E-5 | Yes | HRS § 551E-51 |
| Idaho | Yes | Idaho Code §§ 15-12-101 to 15-12-403 | Yes | Idaho Code § 15-12-104 | Yes | Idaho Code § 15-12-201(1) | Yes | Idaho Code § 15-12-109 | Yes | Idaho Code § 15-12-301 |
| Illinois | No | 755 ILCS 45/1-1 to 45/3-5 | Yes | 755 ILCS 45/2-5 | Yes | 755 ILCS 45/3-3(d)(3) and 45/3-4(n) | Yes | 755 ILCS 45/2-4(a) | Yes | 755 ILCS 45/3-3 |
| Indiana | No | Ind. Code §§ 30-5-1-1 to 30-5-11-11 | Yes | Ind. Code § 30-5-10-3(a) | No | Yes | Ind. Code § 30-5-4-2 | No | ||
| Iowa | Yes | Iowa Code Ann. §§ 633B.101 to 633B.403 | Yes | Iowa Code Ann. § 633B.104 | Yes | Iowa Code Ann. § 633B.201(1) | Yes | Iowa Code Ann. § 633B.109(1) | Yes | Iowa Code Ann. § 633B.301 |
| Kansas | No | K.S.A. 58-650 to 58-665 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. K.S.A. 58-652(a) | Yes | K.S.A. 58-654(f) | Yes | K.S.A. 58-652(e) | No | |
| Kentucky | Yes | KRS § 457.010 to 457.260 | Yes | KRS § 457.040 | Yes | KRS § 457.245 | Yes | KRS § 457.090(1) | No | |
| Louisiana | No | Power of attorney called a "mandate." La. Civ. Code. Ann. art. 2989 to 3034 | Yes | La. Civ. Code. Ann. art. 3026 | Yes | La. Civ. Code. Ann. art. 2997 | Code is silent, but generally understood to be permitted. Typically called a "conditional power of attorney." | No | ||
| Maine | Yes | 18-C M.R.S.A. §§ 5-901 to 5-963 | Yes | 18-C M.R.S.A. § 5-904 | Yes | 18-C M.R.S.A. § 5-931 | Yes | 18-C M.R.S.A. § 5-909(1) | No | |
| Maryland | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts §§ 17-101 to 17-204 | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts § 17-105(c) | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts §§ 14.5-602(e), 17-202, and 17-203 | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts § 17-111(a) | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts §§ 17-202 and 17-203 |
| Massachusetts | No | M.G.L. c. 190B §§ 5-501 to 5-507 UPOAA introduced. | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-501(a) | No | Yes | M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-501(a) | No | ||
| Michigan | No | MCL §§ 700.5501 to 700.5505 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. MCL § 700.5501(1) | Yes | MCL §§ 700.5501(3)(d), (e) | Yes | MCL § 700.5501(1) | No | However, there is a statutory form of acknowledgement that the agent is required to sign before exercising the agent's authority. MCL § 700.5501(4) |
| Minnesota | No | Minn. Stat. Ann. §§ 523.01 to 523.26 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. Minn. Stat. Ann. § 523.07 | Yes | Minn. Stat. Ann. § 523.23 | Yes | Springing powers of attorney generally not allowed except that a power may be drafted so that it becomes effective on the principal's incapacity. Minn. Stat. Ann. § 523.07 | Yes | Minn. Stat. Ann. § 523.23 |
| Mississippi | No | Miss. Code. Ann. §§ 87-3-1 to 87-3-17 and 87-3-101 to 87-3-113 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. Miss. Code. Ann. § 87-3-105 | No | Yes | Miss. Code. Ann. § 87-3-105 | No | ||
| Missouri | No | §§ 404.700 to 404.737, RSMo | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. § 404.705(1), RSMo | Yes | § 404.710(6), RSMo | Yes | § 404.714(8), RSMo | No | |
| Montana | Yes | Mont. Code. Ann. §§ 72-31-301 to 72-31-367 | Yes | Mont. Code. Ann. § 72-31-304 | Yes | Mont. Code. Ann. § 72-31-336 | Yes | Mont. Code. Ann. § 72-31-309(1) | Yes | Mont. Code. Ann. § 72-31-353 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Neb. Rev. St. §§ 30-4001 to 30-4045 | Yes | Neb. Rev. St. § 30-4004 | Yes | Neb. Rev. St. § 30-4024(1) | Yes | Neb. Rev. St. § 30-4009(1) | Yes | Neb. Rev. St. § 30-4041 |
| Nevada | Yes | NRS §§ 162A.200 to 162A.660 | Yes | NRS § 162A.210 | Yes | NRS § 162A.450(1) | Yes | NRS § 162A.260(1) | Yes | NRS § 162A.620 |
| New Hampshire | Yes | N.H. RSA §§ 564-E:101 to 564-E:403 | Yes | N.H. RSA § 564-E:104 | Yes | N.H. RSA § 564-E:201(a) | Yes | N.H. RSA § 564-E:109(a) | Yes | N.H. RSA § 564-E:301 |
| New Jersey | No | N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.1 to 46:2B-19 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.2(b) | Yes | N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.13a | Silent | No | ||
| New Mexico | Yes | NMSA 1978, §§ 45-5B-101 to 45-5B-403 | Yes | NMSA 1978, § 45-5B-104 | Yes | NMSA 1978, § 45-5B-201(A) | Yes | NMSA 1978, § 45-5B-109(A) | Yes | NMSA 1978, § 45-5B-301 |
| New York | No | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1501 to 5-1513 | Yes | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1501A(1) | Yes | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1503 and 5-1513(h) | Yes | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1501B(3)(b) | Yes | N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1503 and 5-1513 |
| North Carolina | Yes | N.C.G.S. §§ 32C-1-101 to 32C-4-403 | Yes | N.C.G.S. § 32C-1-104 | Yes | N.C.G.S. § 32c-2-201(a) | Yes | N.C.G.S. § 32C-1-109(a) | Yes | N.C.G.S. § 32C-3-301 |
| North Dakota | No | N.D.C.C. §§ 30.1-30-01 (5-501) to 30.1-30-06 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. N.D.C.C. § 30.1-30-01 (5-501) | No | Yes | N.D.C.C. § 30.1-30-01 (5-501) | No | ||
| Ohio | Yes | Ohio R.C. 1337.01 to 1337.10 and 1337.21 to 1337.64 | Yes | Ohio R.C. 1337.24 | Yes | Ohio R.C. 1337.42(A) | Yes | Ohio R.C. 1337.29(A) | Yes | Ohio R.C. 1337.60 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 58, §§ 3001 to 3045 | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 58, § 3004 | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 58, § 3024 | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 58, § 3009 | Yes | Okla. Stat. tit. 58, § 3041 |
| Oregon | No | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 127.002 to 127.045 | Yes | Or. Rev. Stat. § 127.005(1)(c) | No | Yes | Or. Rev. Stat. § 127.005(2) | No | ||
| Pennsylvania | Yes | The Pennsylvania power of attorney law is not referred to in Pennsylvania statutes as the Uniform Pennsylvania Power of Attorney Act and some parts of the Pennsylvania power of attorney law are substantially different from the corresponding UPOAA provisions. However, the Uniform Law Commission reflects Pennsylvania as a jurisdiction that has adopted the UPOAA. 20 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 5601 to 5614 | Yes | 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5601.1 | Yes | 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5601.4 | Yes | 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5604(a) | No | However, the principal must sign a statutory notice when creating a power of attorney and the agent must sign a statutory form of an acknowledgement before exercising the agent's authority. 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5601 |
| Rhode Island | No | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-1 to 18-16-12 | Yes | R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2 | No | Yes | Statutory form cannot be springing but a principal can create a springing power of attorney in Rhode Island by creating a non-statutory power of attorney. R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2(c) | Yes | R.I. Gen. Laws § 18-16-2 | |
| South Carolina | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. §§ 62-8-101 to 62-8-403 | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-104 | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-201 | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-109(a) | No | |
| South Dakota | Yes | SDCL §§ 59-12-1 to 59-12-43 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. SDCL § 59-12-3 | Yes | SDCL § 59-12-23 | Yes | SDCL § 59-12-8 | Yes | SDCL § 59-12-41 |
| Tennessee | No | T.C.A. §§ 34-6-101 to 34-6-112 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. T.C.A. § 34-6-102 | No | Yes | T.C.A. § 34-6-102 | No | ||
| Texas | Yes | Tex. Est. Code Ann. §§ 751.001 to 752.115 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. Tex. Est. Code Ann. § 751.0021(a)(3) | Yes | Tex. Est. Code Ann. § 751.031 | Yes | Tex. Est. Code Ann. § 751.0021(a)(3) | Yes | Tex. Est. Code Ann. § 752.051 |
| Utah | Yes | Utah Code §§ 75-9-101 to 75-9-403 | Yes | Utah Code § 75-9-104 | Yes | Utah Code § 75-9-201(1) | Yes | Utah Code § 75-9-109(1) | Yes | Utah Code § 75-9-301 |
| Vermont | No | 14 V.S.A. §§ 3501 to 3516 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. 14 V.S.A. § 3508(a) | Yes | 14 V.S.A. §§ 3504(c) and (e) | Yes | 14 V.S.A. §§ 3502(c) and 3508(b) | No | |
| Virginia | Yes | Va. Code Ann. §§ 64.2-1600 to 64.2-1642 | Yes | Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-1602 | Yes | Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-1622 | Yes | Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-1607(A) | No | |
| Washington | Yes | RCW 11.125.010 to 11.125.903 | No | Must include durability language to create a durable power of attorney. RCW 11.125.040 | Yes | RCW 11.125.240 | Yes | RCW 11.125.040 and 11.125.090(1) | No | |
| West Virginia | Yes | W. Va. Code §§ 39B-1-101 to 39B-4-103 | Yes | W. Va. Code § 39B-1-104 | Yes | W. Va. Code § 39B-2-101(a) | Yes | W. Va. Code § 39B-1-109(a) | Yes | W. Va. Code § 39B-3-101 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Wis. Stat §§ 244.01 to 244.64 | Yes | Wis. Stat § 244.04 | Yes | Wis. Stat § 244.41 | Yes | Wis. Stat § 244.09(1) | Yes | Wis. Stat § 244.61 |
| Wyoming | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 3-9-101 to 3-9-403 | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 3-9-104 | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 3-9-201 | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 3-9-109(a) | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 3-9-301 |