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The Limited (Special) Power of Attorney caters to those who wish to grant powers to a trusted agent to conduct specific functions in their name. The designated acts can vary in magnitude depending on the principal’s needs, some requiring simple tasks to be executed, with others utilizing the form for more large-scale performances. This document can adopt various features of other popular POAs, making it a highly customizable legal form. Parties interested in conveying a limited power of attorney may do so by listing the assigned duties within the form, providing any restrictions of this access, and concluding the transfer of rights by signing the instrument as indicated.

Signing Requirements – To officially guarantee a satisfactory contract, the user must sign before a licensed notary public. Review the listed state-specific endorsement obligations, and associated laws found below before applying signatures to the paperwork.

By State

What is a Limited Power of Attorney?

A limited power of attorney allows an individual to grant legal authority to another person regarding a defined area or specified act. The issuing party or “principal” essentially endows the receiving “agent” with temporary permission to perform cited actions on their behalf. The contract can bestow the identified privileges to effectively expire on an indicated date or upon completion of a particular task. The arrangement can alternatively be instated as “springing”, meaning that the powers only go into effect should a triggering situation occur, such as the death or incapacitation of the principal.

Standard Uses:

Performing Banking Transactions
Paying Bills
Buying/Selling Personal Property
Collecting Monies Owed
Real Estate Management
Vehicle Registration
Tax Representation

Utilizing a limited POA can be beneficial in scenarios where the declarant is absent for an extended period or under circumstances where health problems impede their ability to conduct necessary transactions. Refer to your state’s statutes listed below before endorsing to ensure the execution of the document meets the associated signing requirements.

How to Get a Limited Power of Attorney

Step 1 – Determine Which Powers to Grant
Step 2 – Choose a Designated Agent
Step 3 – Complete the Form
Step 4 – Sign and Notarize the Document
Step 5 – Distribute the Finalized Contract

Step 1 – Determine Which Powers to Grant

Since a limited POA agreement is highly adaptable, mapping out the exact privileges needed for distribution in advance would be prudent. The granted permissions should be restricted to allow the agent to carry out the necessary task without extending nonessential powers. The accord’s termination can also be defined explicitly in the paperwork by instituting an expiration date or completion of the agent’s performance.

Step 2 – Choose a Designated Agent

The nomination of an attorney-in-fact should be carefully considered before issuing the desired controls. It is advised that the principal party only bestow assigned authority to an individual deemed trustworthy and responsible. A reliable family member, close friend, or credible professional may present viable options to receive authorized agency.

Step 3 – Complete the Form

Select the corresponding link for your state to acquire the correct form to issue the designated powers of attorney. Once redirected to the desired state-specific limited POA page, the document (PDF or MS Word Doc) can be downloaded or printed. The contract can additionally be filled out on the FreeForms website by selecting the “Fill Now” feature.

After obtaining the correct form, fill in the blanks with the related transaction information. Provide precise language in detail to issue only the controls that are necessary to complete the assigned task. Establish the termination method for the agreement, either upon fulfillment of the indicated performance or arrival of a confirmed expiration date.

Step 4 – Sign and Notarize the Document

After the paperwork has been sufficiently filled as directed, it will then need to be signed by the participants to legitimize the commitment. In addition to state-specific forms, each state has varying legislation regarding endorsement verification for POA documents. Review the signing requirements below to determine if a licensed notary or witness(es) will need to be present when singing. In cases where there is no legal mandate in place, it is recommended that the event be notarized to further validate the contract’s execution.

Step 5 – Distribute the Finalized Contract

Once the document is finalized, it is advised that all included parties receive a copy of the paperwork to retain for reference. The attorney-in-fact will then be an active representative for the principal and permitted to carry out the denoted tasks by presenting the POA to the associated establishment (e.g., the DMV or a Bank). When signing on behalf of the declarant, the agent will need to indicate authority by writing “Acting as POA” alongside their signature in the appropriate space.

Signing Requirements and POA Laws by State

STATE	SIGNING REQUIRMENTS	POWER OF ATTORNEY LAWS
Alabama	Notary Public	Code of Alabama – Title 26, Chapter 1A (Alabama Uniform Power of Attorney Act)
Alaska	Notary Public	Alaska Statutes – Title 13, Chapter 26 – Protection of Minors and Incapacitated Persons and Their Property; Powers of Attorney
Arizona	Notary Public and One (1) Subscribing Witness	Arizona Revised Statutes – Title 14, Chapter 5, Article 5: Powers of Attorney
Arkansas	Notary Public	Arkansas Code – Title 28, Subtitle 5, Chapter 68 – Uniform Power of Attorney Act
California	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	California Probate Code: Division 4.5. Powers of Attorney (§ 4000 – 4545)
Colorado	Notary Public	Colorado Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 15-14-7)
Connecticut	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Chapter 15c: Connecticut Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Delaware	Notary Public and One (1) Subscribing Witness	Title 12, Chapter 49A: Durable Personal Powers of Attorney Act
Florida	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Chapter 709: Powers of Attorney and Similar Instruments
Georgia	Notary Public and One (1) Subscribing Witness	Georgia Power of Attorney Act (O.C.G.A. § 10-6B-1)
Hawaii	Notary Public	Chapter 551E: Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Idaho	Notary Public	Title 15, Chapter 12: Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Illinois	Notary Public and One (1) Subscribing Witness	Illinois Power of Attorney Act (755 ILCS 45)
Indiana	Notary Public	Title 30, Article 5: Powers of Attorney (§ 30-5)
Iowa	Notary Public	Powers of Attorney (Chapter 633B)
Kansas	Notary Public	Chapter 58, Article 6: Powers and Letters of Attorney
Kentucky	Notary Public	Kentucky Uniform Power of Attorney Act (Chapter 457)
Louisiana	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Louisiana Civil Code – Chapter 2. Mandate
Maine	Notary Public	Title 18-C, Article 5, Part 9: Maine Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Maryland	Notary Public and Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Maryland Power of Attorney Act (§ 17-101 – § 17-204)
Massachusetts	Notary Public	Chapter 190B, Article V: Sections 5-501 – 5-507
Michigan	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Durable Power of Attorney: Sections 700-5501 – 700-5505
Minnesota	Notary Public	Chapter 523: Powers of Attorney
Mississippi	Notary Public	Mississippi Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act (§ 87-3-101 – § 87-3-113)
Missouri	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Durable Power of Attorney Law of Missouri (§ 404.700 – § 404.737)
Montana	Notary Public	Montana Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 72-31-301 – 72-31-367)
Nebraska	Notary Public	Nebraska Revised Statutes – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 30-4041 – 30-4045)
Nevada	Notary Public	Nevada Revised Statutes – Power of Attorney (Uniform Act) (§ 162A.010 – 162A.660)
New Hampshire	Notary Public	New Hampshire Statutes – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 564-E:101 – 564-E:403)
New Jersey	Notary Public	New Jersey Revised Statutes – Revised Durable Power of Attorney Act (§ 46-2B-8.1 – 46-2B-19)
New Mexico	Notary Public	New Mexico Statutes – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 45-5B-101 – 45-5B-403)
New York	Notary Public and Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Consolidated Laws of New York – Chapter 24A – Article 5 – Statutory Short Form and Other Powers of Attorney For Financial and Estate Planning (§ 5-1501 – 5-1514)
North Carolina	Notary Public	North Carolina General Statutes – Chapter 32C – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 32C-1-101 – 32C-4-403)
North Dakota	Soley Requires Signature of Principal; Corroboration from Notary Public Recommended	North Dakota Century Code Title 30, Chapter 30.1-30 – Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act (§ 30.1-30-01 – 30.1-30-06)
Ohio	Notary Public	Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1337: Power of Attorney (§ 1337.01 – 1337.64)
Oklahoma	Notary Public	Oklahoma Statutes Citationized Title 58 Chapter 29 – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (58 O.S. § 3001 – 3045)
Oregon	Soley Requires Signature of Principal; Corroboration from Notary Public Recommended	Oregon Revised Statutes Title 13, Chapter 127 – Powers of Attorney (127.002 – 127.045)
Pennsylvania	Notary Public and Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Pennsylvania Statutes Title 20, Chapter 56 – Powers of Attorney
Rhode Island	Notary Public	Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act (§ 18-16)
South Carolina	Notary Public and Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	South Carolina Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 62-8)
South Dakota	Notary Public	South Dakota Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 59-12-1 – § 59-12-43)
Tennessee	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Tennessee Code Annotated Chapter 6: Power of Attorney (§ 34-6)
Texas	Notary Public	Texas Statutes – Title 2, Chapter 751: Durable Power of Attorney Act
Utah	Notary Public	Utah Code – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 75-9)
Vermont	Notary Public and One (1) Subscribing Witness	Vermont Statutes – Chapter 123: Powers of Attorney (14 V.S.A. § 3501 – 14 V.S.A. § 3516)
Virginia	Notary Public	Virginia Uniform Power of Attorney Act (C.O.V § 64.2-1600 – § 64.2-1642)
Washington	Notary Public or Two (2) Subscribing Witnesses	Revised Code of Washington – Uniform Power of Attorney Act ( § 11-125-010 – § 11-125-903)
West Virginia	Notary Public	West Virginia Code – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 39B-1-101 – § 39B-4-103)
Wisconsin	Notary Public	Wisconsin Statutes – Uniform Power of Attorney for Finances and Property (§ 244-01 – 244-64)
Wyoming	Notary Public	Wyoming Statutes – Uniform Power of Attorney Act (§ 3-9-101 – 3-9-403)

Revoking a Power of Attorney

The manner in which a limited POA can be revoked will depend on how the controls were initially issued within the language contract. When first establishing the agreement, the principal can elect to institute an automatic termination provision to take effect upon:

A Stipulated Expiration Date
Completion of the Assigned Task

If the declarant would rather keep the arrangement in place without utilizing one of these clauses, they can alternatively cancel the commitment with a separate document. Annulment of the original limited POA can be attained by completing and delivering a Revocation of Power of Attorney Form. The accord also becomes void in the event of the death or incapacitation of the principal or agent.

Sample Limited Power of Attorney Form

Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx)

Limited (Special) Power of Attorney Forms

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