What Is a Power of Attorney? Types and Rules by State (2026)

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which one person, the principal, gives another person, the agent or attorney-in-fact, authority to act on their behalf. Power of attorney is governed by state law, so the rules on durability, signing, and an agent's powers vary from state to state. This guide explains the types of power of attorney, how to create a valid one, what an agent may and may not do, and the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Jurisdiction scope: This guide covers financial and durable powers of attorney across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, plus how a POA interacts with the IRS, Social Security, the VA, and Medicare. Healthcare (medical) powers of attorney are governed by each state's separate advance-directive law and are addressed only at a high level here.

What Is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a written authorization in which one person, the principal, grants another person, the agent (also called the attorney-in-fact), authority to act in the principal's place (Idaho Code section 15-12-102, a representative enactment of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act). The agent can be given broad authority over finances and property or narrow authority for a single task. Because a power of attorney is a creature of state law, the precise rules differ from one state to the next.

The single most important rule to understand is that a power of attorney ends the moment the principal dies. After death, authority over the deceased person's property passes to the executor named in a will, or to a court-appointed administrator if there is no will, not to the former agent (Idaho Code section 15-12-110). An agent who keeps using a power of attorney after the principal has died is acting without authority.

A power of attorney is also different from guardianship or conservatorship. A POA is something you set up voluntarily while you still have the capacity to do so. Guardianship is imposed by a court after a person can no longer make decisions and did not plan ahead. A well-drafted durable power of attorney is often exactly what lets a family avoid a guardianship proceeding. Since that option closes once capacity is gone, get a free case evaluation from an estate planning lawyer on a durable power of attorney while it can still be signed (attorney advertising).

Types of Power of Attorney: Durable, General, Limited, Springing, and Medical

The most consequential distinction is durability. A durable power of attorney stays effective even if the principal later becomes incapacitated, while a non-durable POA ends at incapacity, which defeats the main reason most people sign one. Under the modern Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a power of attorney is durable by default and survives the principal's incapacity unless the document expressly states that it ends on incapacity (Idaho Code section 15-12-104). This reverses the older common-law rule. Several states that have not adopted the uniform act, including California, Florida, and Texas, still require the document itself to state that it is durable.

A general power of attorney grants broad authority over the principal's affairs. A limited or special power of attorney grants authority only for a specific purpose or transaction, such as selling one piece of property or signing documents at a single closing while the principal is out of the country.

A springing power of attorney takes effect only when a future event occurs, usually the principal's incapacity. Under the uniform act, if a POA springs on incapacity and the principal did not name someone to decide that question, a physician, licensed psychologist, licensed attorney, judge, or other appropriate governmental official must certify the incapacity before the agent can act (Idaho Code section 15-12-109). Springing powers sound appealing, but they create practical problems: banks and other institutions often delay while they demand proof that the triggering event actually happened. For this reason many attorneys recommend a durable power of attorney that is effective immediately instead.

Finally, a financial power of attorney is not the same as a healthcare, or medical, power of attorney. A healthcare POA is a separate document governed by a different body of law, usually a state's advance-directive or health-care-decisions statute rather than the financial uniform act (Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act). A financial power of attorney, by itself, does not give an agent authority to make medical decisions, and a healthcare power of attorney does not authorize financial transactions. Many people sign both.

How to Create a Valid Power of Attorney: Capacity, Signing, Notarization, and Witnesses

To create a valid power of attorney, the principal must have mental capacity at the time of signing, the document must be signed, and it must meet the state's execution formalities. Under the uniform act, a POA must be signed by the principal, or by another person in the principal's conscious presence and at the principal's direction. Notarizing the principal's signature makes that signature presumptively genuine (Idaho Code section 15-12-105; Virginia Code section 64.2-1603). The model act does not itself require witnesses, but many states add their own requirements. Florida, for example, requires both a notary and two witnesses.

Most of this framework comes from the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, approved by the Uniform Law Commission in 2006 and amended in 2008. More than 30 states and the District of Columbia have enacted a version of it, and several additional states have adopted modified versions (Uniform Law Commission). Michigan is the most recent state to adopt it, effective July 1, 2024 (Mich. Comp. Laws section 556.201). Because each state's version can differ, you should confirm your own state's signing requirements before relying on a form. Pennsylvania, for instance, did not adopt the uniform act and follows its own durable power of attorney statute at 20 Pa. C.S. section 5601 and following.

As a practical matter, getting a power of attorney in place involves a few steps: decide what authority you want to grant and to whom; choose between a durable POA that is effective immediately and one that springs on incapacity; use a form or attorney that follows your state's law; sign it before a notary (and witnesses if your state requires them); and give copies to the agent and to the banks or institutions the agent will deal with. If the agent may handle real estate, the POA usually must be notarized so it can be recorded with the county.

What an Agent Can and Cannot Do: Fiduciary Duties and Hot Powers

An agent who accepts a power of attorney becomes a fiduciary and owes the principal strict duties. Under the uniform act, the agent must act within the authority granted, in good faith, and loyally for the principal's benefit; avoid conflicts of interest; act with the care and competence ordinarily used by agents in similar situations; and keep a record of every receipt, disbursement, and transaction made on the principal's behalf (Idaho Code section 15-12-114). Some states add more. Virginia, for example, requires an agent to disclose transactions from the prior five years to certain parties who have a good-faith belief the principal may lack capacity; the agent must comply within 30 days or provide a written explanation with full compliance within an additional 30 days (Virginia Code section 64.2-1612).

Certain powers are considered so risky that an agent may use them only if the principal expressly grants that specific authority in the document. Under the uniform act, these hot powers include creating or changing a trust, making gifts, creating or changing rights of survivorship, changing a beneficiary designation, delegating the agent's authority, and waiving the principal's right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity (Idaho Code section 15-12-201). A general grant of authority is not enough. If the document is silent, the agent cannot, for example, change who inherits the principal's accounts. An agent can never make or change the principal's will.

Getting a Power of Attorney Accepted: Banks and Third Parties

A common frustration is a bank refusing to honor a valid power of attorney. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that as long as a power of attorney follows the laws of the principal's state, banks, credit unions, and other third parties should accept it and let the agent handle transactions (CFPB). An institution may not simply insist on its own in-house POA form. A bank may refuse only in limited situations, such as when it believes the document is forged, knows it has been revoked, or suspects the principal is being exploited. The CFPB recommends giving your bank a copy of the power of attorney in advance, so the agent does not hit delays later.

States that adopted the uniform act back this up with real consequences. A person presented with a notarized power of attorney must either accept it or request an agent's certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel within seven business days, and must then accept it within five business days after receiving any certification (Idaho Code section 15-12-120). A third party that accepts a power of attorney in good faith may rely on it as valid without further investigation (Idaho Code section 15-12-119). A person who unreasonably refuses can be ordered by a court to accept the POA and held liable for the reasonable attorney fees and costs of forcing the issue (Idaho Code section 15-12-120; Virginia Code sections 64.2-1617 and 64.2-1618).

When a Power of Attorney Isn't Enough: IRS, Social Security, VA, and Medicare

A general state power of attorney does not control everything. Several federal agencies use their own forms and programs, and a private POA often does not satisfy them.

The IRS uses Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, as its standard authorization form to represent a taxpayer before the agency, and the representative must be eligible to practice before the IRS, such as an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent. The IRS will accept an alternative power of attorney, including a state POA, if it satisfies federal requirements, but such an alternative cannot be recorded on the IRS Centralized Authorization File (CAF) unless a completed Form 2848 is also attached, so the representative must carry the original document to each proceeding (IRS Form 2848 instructions). For information-only access without representation, the IRS uses Form 8821 (IRS Topic 311).

The Social Security Administration does not accept a power of attorney at all for managing someone's benefits. To handle another person's Social Security or SSI payments, you must apply to become their Representative Payee. The SSA states plainly that holding a power of attorney does not give you legal authority to manage benefit payments (Social Security Administration).

The Department of Veterans Affairs manages benefit payments through its Fiduciary Program. When a beneficiary cannot manage VA benefits, the VA, not a private power of attorney, appoints a fiduciary after medical evidence or a court finding of incapacity (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). Medicare similarly uses its own Appointment of Representative form, CMS-1696, for someone to act in claims and appeals, although a state power of attorney can be attached as supporting documentation (CMS).

Revoking or Ending a Power of Attorney (and Preventing Abuse)

A principal who still has capacity can revoke a power of attorney at any time. A POA also terminates automatically when the principal dies, when a non-durable POA's principal becomes incapacitated, when its stated purpose is accomplished, or when the agent dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated and no successor is named (Idaho Code section 15-12-110). Importantly, signing a new power of attorney does not automatically cancel an older one unless the new document says so, so it is good practice to expressly revoke prior powers of attorney in writing and to notify anyone relying on the old one.

Because an agent controls the principal's money and property, power of attorney abuse is a real risk. The recordkeeping duty exists precisely so an agent's actions can be reviewed. The principal, a guardian or conservator, a government agency, or the principal's estate can demand an accounting of the agent's transactions, and an agent who breaches fiduciary duty can be held personally liable (Idaho Code section 15-12-114; Virginia Code section 64.2-1612). If you suspect an agent is exploiting a vulnerable adult, you can report it to your state's adult protective services agency.

Power of Attorney Laws by State

Power of attorney is state law, so the governing statute and signing rules depend on where the principal lives. The table below shows, for each state and the District of Columbia, whether it has adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act and the primary statute that governs financial or durable powers of attorney. Select your state for a detailed guide. Healthcare powers of attorney are governed separately by each state's advance-directive law.

The table below covers 9 states in the Northeast.

The table below covers 12 states in the Midwest.

The table below covers 16 states in the South, plus the District of Columbia.

The table below covers 13 states in the West.

Adoption status reflects the Uniform Law Commission enactment record. States marked Modified enacted a version of the uniform act with notable changes, while states marked own act follow their own power of attorney statute. Confirm your state's current status and signing rules on the Uniform Law Commission website or with your state legislature before relying on a form.

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. Power of attorney laws differ by state and change over time, and the right document depends on your situation. The statutes and rules cited here reflect their published versions as of the date of this article. For a power of attorney tailored to your needs, or before acting under one, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Sources

This guide cites state power-of-attorney statutes, the Uniform Power of Attorney Act and the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act published by the Uniform Law Commission, and federal agency guidance from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Full citations are listed below.

Statutes cited reflect their in-force version as of May 31, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document in which you (the principal) authorize another person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on your behalf, usually for financial or property matters. It is governed by your state's law and ends automatically when you die.

What are the main types of power of attorney?

The main types are durable (stays effective if you become incapacitated), general or non-durable (broad authority that ends at incapacity), limited or special (authority for one purpose), springing (effective only on a future event), and medical or healthcare (decisions about medical care, governed by separate advance-directive law).

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?

In most states, notarizing the principal's signature makes the power of attorney presumptively valid, and many states either require notarization or accept it as an alternative to witnesses. Some states, such as Florida, require both a notary and two witnesses. Check your state's rule before signing.

Does a power of attorney end when the person dies?

Yes. A power of attorney automatically ends the moment the principal dies. After death, the executor named in the will, or a court-appointed administrator, manages the estate, not the former agent.

Can a power of attorney change a will or make gifts?

No, not unless the document expressly grants those powers. Gifts, beneficiary changes, and changes to a trust are hot powers that an agent can exercise only if the principal specifically authorized them in writing. An agent can never make or change the principal's will.

Who can override a power of attorney?

The principal can revoke it at any time while they still have capacity. A court can also limit or end an agent's authority, and a newly appointed guardian or the principal's estate can hold an abusive agent accountable.

How do I get power of attorney for an elderly parent?

Your parent must sign a power of attorney while they still have the mental capacity to understand it; you cannot obtain a POA after a parent has lost capacity. Follow your state's rules for signing, notarization, and witnesses, and consider a durable POA so it stays valid if your parent's health declines. If a parent has already lost capacity, the alternative is a court guardianship.

Does Social Security accept a power of attorney?

No. The Social Security Administration does not recognize a power of attorney for managing benefits. To handle someone's Social Security or SSI payments, you must apply to become their Representative Payee.

Can a bank refuse my power of attorney?

A bank should accept a power of attorney that complies with your state's law, and many states can order an institution that unreasonably refuses to accept it and pay your attorney fees. A bank may refuse only in limited cases, such as suspected forgery, a revoked POA, or suspected exploitation of the principal.

How do I revoke a power of attorney?

A principal with capacity revokes a power of attorney by signing a written revocation and notifying the agent and any institutions relying on it. Signing a new power of attorney does not automatically cancel an old one unless the new document says so.

Is a power of attorney the same as guardianship?

No. A power of attorney is set up voluntarily while you still have capacity, while guardianship is imposed by a court after someone can no longer make decisions. A durable power of attorney is often what allows a family to avoid guardianship.

Is an agent personally responsible for the principal's debts?

Generally no. An agent who acts properly within their authority and signs on the principal's behalf is not personally liable for the principal's debts or bills. An agent can be held liable for their own misconduct or for breaching their fiduciary duties.