53 articles
Alabama power of attorney laws explained: UPOAA adopted (Ala. Code 26-1A-101 et seq.); durable by default; notarization creates presumption of genuineness; health care decisions require a separate advance directive (Ala. Code 22-8A-4).
Learn Alaska power of attorney laws for 2026: durable POA under AS 13.26, health care directives under AS 13.52, execution, agent authority, and revocation.
Arizona power of attorney laws explained: A.R.S. 14-5501 governs durable financial POA (one witness + notary required, durability must be stated); health care POA is separate under A.R.S. 36-3221.
Learn about Arkansas power of attorney laws, including the durable POA default under Ark. Code 28-68-104, execution and notarization requirements, agent duties, hot powers, and the separate Arkansas Healthcare Decisions Act for medical POA.
California Power of Attorney Law (Prob. Code 4000-4545): durable POA rules, execution requirements, agent duties, and the separate Advance Health Care Directive.
Learn Colorado power of attorney laws under C.R.S. 15-14-701 to 15-14-745. Covers durable POA, execution, agent duties, hot powers, medical POA, and revocation.
Connecticut power of attorney laws under the UPOAA (Conn. Gen. Stat. 1-350 to 1-353b, eff. Oct. 1, 2016): durable by default, requires two adult witnesses (notarization recommended but not required for validity). Health care decisions require a separate appointment of health care representative under Conn. Gen. Stat. Ch. 368w.
Learn how Delaware power of attorney laws work in 2026. Covers financial POA execution (notary + 1 witness), durable vs. springing, hot powers, and the separate Advance Health-Care Directive under 16 Del. C. ch. 25.
Florida Power of Attorney Act (Fla. Stat. ch. 709): execution requires notarization plus two witnesses, no springing POAs after Oct 1 2011, health care decisions use a separate surrogate designation under ch. 765.
Georgia Power of Attorney Act (O.C.G.A. 10-6B-1 et seq.): durable by default, requires principal signature, one witness, and notarization. Health care decisions use a separate Advance Directive under O.C.G.A. 31-32.
Hawaii power of attorney laws explained: durable POA by default under HRS ch. 551E, execution by notarization, hot powers, and separate health-care POA under ch. 327E.
Idaho power of attorney laws explained: the Idaho Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Idaho Code 15-12-101 et seq.) makes POAs durable by default (15-12-104), requires notarization for execution (15-12-105), lists hot powers requiring express grant (15-12-201), and keeps healthcare decisions in a separate advance care planning document under Idaho Code 39-4501 et seq.
Illinois Power of Attorney Act (755 ILCS 45): property POA requires one witness and notarization; health care POA covered in Article IV. Both types explained with execution rules, agent duties, and revocation.
Indiana POA laws are governed by IC 30-5 (not the UPOAA). A financial POA must be signed before a notary or two witnesses and is durable by default under IC 30-5-10-3. Healthcare decisions require a separate advance directive under IC 16-36-7.
Iowa power of attorney laws explained: durable POA under Iowa Code ch. 633B, health care POA under ch. 144B, execution, agent duties, and revocation rules.
Kansas power of attorney laws explained: the Kansas Power of Attorney Act (K.S.A. 58-650 to 58-665) governs financial POA; health care decisions require a separate instrument under K.S.A. 58-625 et seq.; notarization required; gifts require express authority.
Kentucky Power of Attorney law (KRS ch. 457, UPOAA 2018): durable by default, notarized, agent duties, hot powers, and separate health care surrogate under KRS 311.621 to 311.643.
Louisiana Power of Attorney laws use the civil-law "mandate" (La. Civ. Code arts. 2989-3034). No separate durable clause needed: incapacity alone does not end a mandate under art. 3026. Authentic-act form required for immovable property. Seven acts need express authority.
Maine Power of Attorney Laws: durable POA is the default under 18-C M.R.S. 5-904, execution requires notarization (5-905), and health care directives are governed separately by the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act (5-801 et seq.).
Maryland General and Limited Power of Attorney Act (Est. & Trusts §§ 17-101 to 17-204): durable by default, notary plus two witnesses required for execution, health care decisions require a separate advance directive under Health-General §§ 5-601 et seq.
Massachusetts Power of Attorney Law (G.L. ch. 190B, ss. 5-501 to 5-507): durable POA execution, agent authority, and the separate Health Care Proxy (ch. 201D).
Michigan adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (MCL 556.201-556.505) effective July 1, 2024. A Michigan POA is durable by default. Learn execution, agent duties, hot powers, and the separate patient advocate designation.
Michigan's Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Public Act 187 of 2023, took effect July 1, 2024, setting agent duties and letting courts order a bank to accept a valid POA.
Minnesota power of attorney laws under Minn. Stat. ch. 523: statutory short form, notarization required, durability must be stated, agent duties under 523.21, and the separate Health Care Directive under ch. 145C.
Mississippi Power of Attorney law: Uniform Durable POA Act (Miss. Code 87-3-101 to 87-3-113), execution, durability language, agent powers, and the separate healthcare directive under Miss. Code 41-41-201 et seq.
Missouri uses the Durable Power of Attorney Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 404.700 to 404.737), not the UPOAA. A POA is durable only with express language; execution requires signature, date, and notarization (§ 404.705). Health care decisions require a separate POA under §§ 404.800 to 404.865.
Montana adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Mont. Code Ann. 72-31-301 to 72-31-367). A financial POA is durable by default and requires notarization; no witnesses needed. Health care decisions use a separate declaration under Mont. Code Ann. 50-9-103.
Nebraska power of attorney laws explained: durable POA under the Nebraska Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 30-4001 to 30-4045), health care POA under sections 30-3401 to 30-3432, execution, agent duties, and revocation rules.
Nevada power of attorney laws explained: durable POA default (NRS 162A.210), financial vs. healthcare POA, execution requirements, hot powers, and revocation under NRS Chapter 162A.
New Hampshire power of attorney laws: RSA 564-E (UPOAA, durable by default), execution, agent duties, hot powers, and RSA 137-J healthcare advance directive explained.
New Jersey power of attorney laws explained: durable POA under N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.1, execution requirements, agent duties, healthcare advance directives, and revocation rules.
New Mexico adopted the UPOAA: POAs are durable by default under N.M. Stat. 45-5B-104. Learn execution rules, agent duties, hot powers, and how the healthcare POA differs.
New York POA is durable by default under GOB 5-1501A. The 2021 reforms require principal and agent signatures, notarization, and two disinterested witnesses. Medical decisions use a separate Health Care Proxy under Public Health Law 2980-2994.
North Carolina adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Chapter 32C) effective January 1, 2018. A NC financial POA is durable by default and requires notarization. The health care POA is a separate instrument under Chapter 32A.
Learn how North Dakota power of attorney laws work in 2026. Covers the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act (ch. 30.1-30), execution requirements, health care directives (ch. 23-06.5), agent authority, and revocation.
Learn Ohio power of attorney laws: durable POA by default under the UPOAA (RC 1337.21-1337.64), execution by notarization, agent duties, hot powers, and the separate health care POA (RC 1337.11-1337.17).
Oklahoma power of attorney laws explained: the Uniform POA Act (tit. 58, sections 3001-3045) makes POAs durable by default; notarization is optional but recommended; healthcare decisions require a separate Health Care Agent Act document (tit. 63, sections 3111.1-3111.13).
Oregon power of attorney laws under ORS 127.005-127.045: effective through incapacity by default, no witness or notary required for a financial POA, notarization needed only to record real-estate authority. Health care decisions require a separate advance directive under ORS 127.505-127.660.
Pennsylvania power of attorney laws explained: execution requirements (notary + 2 witnesses + statutory notice since 2015), durable by default, agent duties, hot powers, and the separate health care POA under 20 Pa. C.S. ch. 54.
Power of attorney explained: durable, medical, financial, and springing POA, how to set one up, an agent's duties, and the law in all 50 states and DC.
Learn how Rhode Island power of attorney laws work under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 18-16. Covers durable POA, execution, agent authority, health care POA, and revocation.
South Carolina adopted the UPOAA effective Jan 1, 2017 (S.C. Code 62-8-101 to 62-8-403). Financial POAs are durable by default; execution requires 2 witnesses + notary acknowledgment; agents must record the POA with the register of deeds before acting during the principal's incapacity. Health care POA is separate under 62-5-501 et seq.
South Dakota power of attorney laws explained: SDCL ch. 59-12 (Uniform Power of Attorney Act, eff. July 1, 2020) requires express durability language and notarization; health care POA under SDCL 59-7-2.1 requires two witnesses or a notary; living will under SDCL ch. 34-12D.
Tennessee Power of Attorney law (Tenn. Code 34-6-101 to 34-6-112): durable POA rules, execution, agent powers, and the separate health care POA under sections 34-6-201 to 34-6-218.
Learn Texas power of attorney laws: durable POA requires express durability language under Tex. Est. Code ch. 751, notarization required, 2017 fiduciary-duty amendments, hot powers, and the separate medical POA under Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 166.
Utah Power of Attorney laws under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Utah Code 75A-2-101 et seq.): durable by default, notarization for execution, hot powers, and the separate Uniform Health Care Decisions Act at Utah Code Title 75A, Chapter 9 (effective January 1, 2026).
Vermont power of attorney laws explained: 14 V.S.A. ch. 127 (UPOAA, eff. July 1, 2023) makes POAs durable by default, execution requires notary acknowledgment, 12 hot powers need express grants, and healthcare decisions require a separate Advance Directive under 18 V.S.A. ch. 231.
Virginia adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Va. Code 64.2-1600 et seq.). A financial POA is durable by default, requires notarization, and grants hot powers only when expressly listed. Healthcare decisions require a separate advance directive under Va. Code 54.1-2981 et seq.
Learn how Washington DC power of attorney laws work in 2026. Covers the 2023 Uniform Power of Attorney Act (D.C. Code 21-2601 et seq.), durable by default, notarization requirement, hot powers, and the separate health-care POA under D.C. Code 21-2201 et seq.
Washington POA laws under RCW 11.125 (UPOAA, eff. 2017): not durable by default, requires express durability language; notary or two qualified witnesses; 12 hot powers; health care agent under RCW 11.125.400 and Natural Death Act directive under RCW 70.122.
West Virginia adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (W. Va. Code Chapter 39B). A financial POA is durable by default and requires only notarization. Healthcare decisions require a separate medical POA under the Health Care Decisions Act (W. Va. Code Chapter 16-30) with two witnesses and notarization.
Wisconsin financial POA is durable by default under Wis. Stat. ch. 244 (UPOAA). Execution requires principal signature and notarization. Health care POA is separate under ch. 155, requiring two witnesses.
Wyoming power of attorney laws explained: UPOAA financial POA (durable by default, notarization only), hot powers under Wyo. Stat. 3-9-201, and healthcare POA under the Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act (35-22-401 et seq.).