Power of attorney form: free to fill in and download in Word

Reviewed in October 2026

A power of attorney form is a legal document where you (the principal) give another person (the agent) authority to act for you. This form covers financial matters, and you choose each power and whether it continues if you become incapacitated. For health decisions, use a medical power of attorney.

Download in Word

Free to download, no email needed.

The full power of attorney

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 [immediately / only when a licensed physician certifies in writing that I am unable to manage my financial affairs].

[Initial one] ___ This power of attorney is durable and continues if I become incapacitated. ___ This power of attorney ends if I become incapacitated.

It ends when I revoke it or at my death.

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Any person who receives a copy of this document may rely on it until they receive actual notice that it has been revoked.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

Field	Example
Principal	Margaret Collins, Raleigh, NC
Agent	Daniel Collins, her son
Successor agent	Laura Collins Hayes, her daughter
Powers	Banking, tax, real estate and benefits
Limit	May not sell the house on Oak Street
Start	Immediately
Compensation	None

How it gets signed

1Download the power of attorney in Word and fill in the fields.
2Print it and read every power once more before you sign.
3Sign it on paper, before a notary or witnesses when your state asks for them.
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.

Types of power of attorney

Type	What it covers	If you become incapacitated
General	Broad financial powers	Ends
Durable	Financial powers that survive incapacity	Continues
Springing	Starts only when you become incapacitated	Starts
Limited or special	One task or one period	Usually ends
Medical	Health care decisions	Starts when you cannot decide

This form lets you choose durable or not durable and immediate or springing. For a ready durable version, see the durable power of attorney form. For health decisions, see the medical power of attorney form.

Choosing your agent

Pick someone you trust with money and paperwork.
Ask them first. They should accept in writing, as the form allows.
Name a successor in case the first agent cannot act.
Avoid naming two agents who must always agree. It slows every task.

Which powers to grant

Grant only what the agent needs. A parent recovering from surgery may need banking and bills only. An adult child handling a parent’s affairs long term may need all of them.

Real estate powers matter if the agent may sell or mortgage a home. Tax powers let the agent talk to the IRS for you, which may also need the IRS’s own form.

A worked example

Margaret, 78, names her son Daniel as agent for banking, taxes, real estate and benefits. She adds one limit. He may not sell her house on Oak Street.

She makes it durable and effective immediately. Daniel accepts, and Margaret has her signature acknowledged by a notary at her bank so the bank adds Daniel to her account access.

Revoking a power of attorney

You can revoke it any time while you have capacity. Sign a written revocation, give it to the agent and send copies to every bank or office that has the old one.

Signing step by step

1Fill in the form and initial each power you grant.
2Print it. Your agent signs the acceptance.
3Sign it yourself, before a notary if your bank or state asks for one.
4Give copies to your agent and to each bank that will rely on it.

Where to keep it

Keep the signed original where your agent can find it. A power of attorney nobody can locate in an emergency does not help.

Keep the signed original with your records and give your agent a copy. Banks usually ask to see the original or a certified copy.

Update the copies if you revoke the power or name a new agent.

Before you sign

Other templates

Frequently asked questions

Who can be a power of attorney?

Any adult you trust who agrees to act can be your agent: a spouse, an adult child, a friend or a professional. Most states ask that the agent be at least 18 and of sound mind. You can also name a successor agent.

What are the 4 types of power of attorney?

General, limited (also called special), durable and springing. A general one covers most financial matters, a limited one a single task, a durable one keeps working if you lose capacity, and a springing one starts only when a set event happens.

Can I download the power of attorney in Word?

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

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?

Many states and most banks expect it. A notarized power is also needed to record real estate transactions.

Does a power of attorney end at death?

Yes. After death, the executor named in the will handles the estate.

Can I have more than one agent?

Yes. Name a successor agent, or co-agents, and say whether they may act alone.

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