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General power of attorney form: free to fill in and download in Word

Reviewed in October 2026

A general power of attorney gives an agent broad authority to handle your financial and legal affairs, such as banking, property and contracts. It ends if you become incapacitated, at the end date you set or when you revoke it. People use it while traveling, living abroad or recovering from an illness.

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General power of attorney example, filled in with sample data
Example filled in with sample data

The full general power of attorney

GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

For financial matters

I, [principal full name], of [address] (the "Principal"), appoint [agent full name], of [address], phone [phone] (the "Agent"), as my attorney-in-fact to act for me as stated below.

1. Powers granted

The Agent may act for me in the following matters [initial each one you grant]: ___ banking and financial accounts · ___ real estate · ___ personal property and vehicles · ___ tax matters · ___ government benefits · ___ insurance and annuities · ___ retirement plans · ___ business operations · ___ claims and litigation · ___ ALL of the matters listed.

2. Special instructions

[Limits or instructions, for example: The Agent may not sell my home at address.]

3. Gifts and changes to beneficiaries

The Agent may not make gifts, create or change trusts, or change beneficiary designations unless I initial here: ___ and describe the limits: [limits].

4. Successor agent

If the Agent cannot or will not act, I appoint [successor full name], of [address], as successor agent with the same powers.

5. When it starts and ends

This power of attorney is effective on [date]. It ends on [date], when I revoke it, or when I become incapacitated or die, whichever happens first.

6. Agent’s duties

The Agent will act in good faith, within the powers granted, in my best interest and according to my known wishes. The Agent will keep my property separate from the Agent’s own, keep records of all transactions and not profit from acting for me except for reasonable compensation of [amount / none].

7. Reliance by third parties

Any person who receives a copy of this document may rely on it until they receive actual notice that it has been revoked.

8. Governing law

This power of attorney is governed by the laws of [state].

I sign this power of attorney on [date].

PRINCIPAL

Signature: ______________________

Name: [full name]

Date: [date]

AGENT’S ACCEPTANCE

I accept this appointment and the duties above.

Signature: ______________________

Name: [agent full name]

Date: [date]

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of [state] ) County of [county] )

On [date], before me, [notary name], personally appeared [principal name], who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is signed on this document and acknowledged that they signed it.

Notary signature: ______________________ · My commission expires: [date]

What the template includes

  • Principal and agent with contact details
  • Powers chosen one by one, or all of them
  • Special limits and instructions
  • Gifts and beneficiary changes only if you allow them
  • A successor agent
  • When it starts, whether it survives incapacity and when it ends
  • The agent’s duties and record keeping
  • Reliance by banks and other third parties
  • Agent’s acceptance and a notary acknowledgment page

What you fill in

FieldExample
PrincipalCarlos Medina, Miami, FL
AgentAna Medina, his sister
PowersAll of the matters listed
Start and endJanuary 5, 2027 to July 5, 2027
ReasonSix-month work assignment abroad
CompensationNone

How it gets signed

  1. 1Download the general power of attorney in Word and fill in the fields.
  2. 2Print it and read every power once more before you sign.
  3. 3Sign it on paper, before a notary or witnesses when your state asks for them.
  4. 4Give the original to your agent and keep a copy with your records.

Banks, title companies and county recorders usually ask for a power of attorney acknowledged before a notary. Sign it here, then take the printed copy to a notary to acknowledge your signature, or use a remote online notary where your state allows it.

What the law says

Each state has its own power of attorney statute, and many follow the Uniform Power of Attorney Act. Those laws set who can be an agent, what the agent may do and what formalities make the document easier to rely on.

When a general power of attorney fits

  • You will be abroad or out of reach for months.
  • You are in hospital or rehab and need someone to handle bills.
  • You own a business and need a deputy to sign during an absence.
  • You are in the military and will deploy.

If you want the power to keep working if you lose capacity, use the durable power of attorney form instead.

General or limited

A general power covers most financial matters. A limited power covers one task, such as selling a car or closing on a house. For a single task, a short power of attorney letter may be enough.

Protecting yourself

  • Set an end date that matches your absence.
  • Exclude gifts unless you need them.
  • Ask the agent to keep receipts and send monthly statements.
  • Tell your bank when the power ends.

A worked example

Carlos takes a six-month job in Singapore. He gives his sister Ana a general power from January to July for his bank, his condo and his taxes.

Ana pays his HOA fees, signs a lease renewal for his tenant and files his tax return. In July the power ends on its own.

Mistakes to avoid

  • No end date. The power runs until revoked, which may be longer than you want.
  • Forgetting a successor. If the agent gets sick, nobody can act.
  • Not telling the bank. Give your bank a copy before you leave.

For service members and people working abroad

Deployments and overseas jobs are the classic reason for a general power. Military legal offices often help service members prepare one before they leave.

If you are already abroad, a US embassy or consulate can usually notarize your signature. Some states also allow remote online notarization from abroad.

Checklist before you leave

  1. 1Agent and successor chosen and willing.
  2. 2Powers initialed and limits written.
  3. 3End date set to match your absence.
  4. 4Signature acknowledged by a notary.
  5. 5Copies given to your bank, your landlord or property manager and your tax preparer.

Leave a short list of passwords your agent will need in a safe place, not in the power itself.

When the power ends

On the end date the agent’s authority stops on its own. Tell your bank and anyone else who has a copy, so they stop accepting it. Ask the agent for a final summary of what they did.

Keep the summary with your copy of the power. It closes the period cleanly and answers questions at tax time.

If you come back early, sign a revocation and send it to the same people.

Before you sign

Other templates

Frequently asked questions

Can I download the general power of attorney in Word?

Yes. “Download in Word” gives you the full general power of attorney with no email and no account. You can print it or edit it and sign it here later.

Does a general power of attorney survive incapacity?

No. It ends if you become incapacitated. A durable power continues.

Can my agent sell my house?

Only if you initial real estate powers in clause 1. Recording a sale usually needs a notarized power.

Can I end it early?

Yes. Sign a revocation and give copies to the agent and every institution that has the power.

Can I give a general power of attorney to a company?

Usually you name a person. Some states allow a bank or trust company to act as agent.

Can the agent sign contracts for me?

Yes, within the powers you initialed and only for the period you set.

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