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South Carolina Power of Attorney Form

Published Dec 26, 2025

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A South Carolina Power of Attorney form allows an individual to formally appoint a representative to handle financial, healthcare, or other specified decisions on their behalf, with the scope of authority defined under South Carolina law.

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Poa Type

What type of Power of Attorney do you want to create?

General Power of Attorney Limited/Special Power of Attorney Durable Power of Attorney Springing Power of Attorney Medical/Healthcare Power of Attorney

Select the type of authority you wish to grant. 'General' grants broad powers; 'Limited/Special' restricts authority to specific acts; 'Durable' remains in effect if the Principal becomes incapacitated; 'Springing' only becomes effective upon a specified event.

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SOUTH CAROLINA POWER OF ATTORNEY FORM

NOTICE TO THE PRINCIPAL:
THE POWERS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT ARE BROAD AND SWEEPING. THEY ARE EXPLAINED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA UNIFORM POWER OF ATTORNEY ACT (SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, TITLE 62, ARTICLE 8). IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE POWERS, OBTAIN COMPETENT LEGAL ADVICE. THIS DOCUMENT DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO MAKE MEDICAL AND OTHER HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IF YOU LATER WISH TO DO SO.

I. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT

I, the undersigned Principal, hereby appoint the following person as my Agent (attorney-in-fact) to act for me in any lawful way with respect to the subjects indicated below:

The Principal:
Name:
Address:

The Agent:
Name:
Address:

II. DESIGNATION OF SUCCESSOR AGENT (OPTIONAL)

Designate a Successor Agent?

If my Agent resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, is not qualified to serve, or declines to serve, I name the following person as my Successor Agent:

The Successor Agent:
Name:
Address:

III. GRANT OF GENERAL AUTHORITY

I grant my Agent and any Successor Agent general authority to act for me with respect to the following subjects as defined in the South Carolina Uniform Power of Attorney Act (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 62-8-204 through 62-8-217):

(Check the boxes of the subjects you wish to grant. To grant all, check the last box "All Preceding Subjects").

Real Property (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-204)

Tangible Personal Property (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-205)

Stocks and Bonds (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-206)

Commodities and Options (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-207)

Banks and Other Financial Institutions (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-208)

Operation of Entity or Business (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-209)

Insurance and Annuities (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-210)

Estates, Trusts, and Other Beneficial Interests (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-211)

Claims and Litigation (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-212)

Personal and Family Maintenance (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-213)

Benefits from Governmental Programs or Civil or Military Service (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-214)

Retirement Plans (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-215)

Taxes (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-216)

All Preceding Subjects

IV. GRANT OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)

My Agent MAY NOT do any of the following specific acts for me UNLESS I have checked the specific box below. These powers are distinct from the general powers listed above and require express authorization pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-201.

Create, amend, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust

Make a gift, subject to the limitations of the South Carolina Uniform Power of Attorney Act

Create or change rights of survivorship

Create or change a beneficiary designation

Authorize another person to exercise the authority granted under this Power of Attorney

Waive the Principal’s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan

Exercise fiduciary powers that the Principal has authority to delegate

Disclaim or refuse an interest in property, including a power of appointment

V. DURABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE

This Power of Attorney shall be construed as follows (Check one):

Durable Power of Attorney

Springing Power of Attorney

Non-Durable Power of Attorney

Durable Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney is effective immediately and shall not be affected by my subsequent disability or incapacity, or lapse of time.

Springing Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney shall become effective only upon my disability or incapacity.

Non-Durable Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney is effective immediately but shall terminate upon my disability or incapacity.

VI. NOMINATION OF CONSERVATOR OR GUARDIAN

Nominate Conservator or Guardian?

If it becomes necessary for a court to appoint a conservator or guardian of my estate or guardian of my person, I nominate the following person(s) for appointment:

Nominee for Conservator of my Estate:

Nominee for Guardian of my Person:

VII. RELIANCE BY THIRD PARTIES

Any person, including my Agent, may rely upon the validity of this Power of Attorney or a copy of it unless that person knows it has terminated or is invalid. Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-119, any person who in good faith accepts this acknowledged Power of Attorney without actual knowledge that the Power of Attorney is void, invalid, or terminated, may rely upon the Power of Attorney as if the Power of Attorney were genuine, valid and still in effect.

VIII. REVOCATION

I hereby revoke all Powers of Attorney previously executed by me. This Power of Attorney may be revoked by me at any time by providing written notice to my Agent.

IX. GOVERNING LAW

This Power of Attorney shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina.

X. SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I, the Principal, sign my name to this Power of Attorney on , and being first duly sworn, do declare to the undersigned authority that I sign and execute this instrument as my Power of Attorney and that I sign it willingly, or willingly direct another to sign for me, that I execute it as my free and voluntary act for the purposes expressed in the Power of Attorney, and that I am eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind, and under no constraint or undue influence.

PRINCIPAL

Signature: _________________________

Print Name: _______________

Date: _______________

Address: _______________

Witnesses

ATTESTATION: The foregoing Power of Attorney was, on the date written above, published and declared by the Principal in our presence to be his/her Power of Attorney. We, in the presence of the Principal and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as attesting witnesses.

Witness 1:
Signature: _________________________
Print Name:
Date:
Address:

Witness 2:
Signature: _________________________
Print Name:
Date:
Address:

Include Notary Public Section?

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of
County of

On this , before me, , a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared the above-named individual(s) who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged that they executed the same as their free act and deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal.

Notary Public Signature: _________________________
Print Name: _______________
My Commission Expires:

(Seal)

Include Agent's Certification Form?

XI. AGENT'S CERTIFICATION (OPTIONAL)

*The following optional form may be used by an Agent to certify facts concerning a Power of Attorney.*

AGENT'S CERTIFICATION AS TO THE VALIDITY OF POWER OF ATTORNEY AND AGENT'S AUTHORITY

State of South Carolina
County of

I, _______________ (Name of Agent), certify under penalty of perjury that _______________ (Name of Principal) granted me authority as an agent or successor agent in a power of attorney dated .

I further certify that to my knowledge:
(1) The Principal is alive and has not revoked the Power of Attorney or my authority;
(2) The Power of Attorney and my authority to act under the Power of Attorney have not terminated;
(3) If the Power of Attorney was drafted to become effective upon the happening of an event or contingency, the event or contingency has occurred;
(4) If I was named as a successor agent, the prior agent is no longer able or willing to serve; and
(5)

SIGNATURE OF AGENT

Signature: _________________________

Print Name: _______________

Date:

Address: _______________

Telephone:

NOTARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR AGENT'S CERTIFICATION

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me on , by _______________ (Name of Agent).

Signature of Notary Public: _________________________

Printed Name of Notary Public:

My Commission Expires:

(Seal)

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What is a South Carolina Power of Attorney Form?

A South Carolina Power of Attorney Form serves as a legal instrument allowing an individual to designate another person to act on their behalf regarding financial, legal, or medical matters. The individual granting authority is known as the principal, while the appointed representative acts as the agent or attorney-in-fact. This document functions as a critical component of estate planning by ensuring personal affairs remain managed during periods of absence or incapacitation. Residents of South Carolina utilize these forms to delegate specific tasks or broad management powers depending on their unique needs and circumstances.

Types of South Carolina Power of Attorney Forms

Durable Power of Attorney - Grants the agent authority to manage financial and legal affairs that remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated or mentally incompetent.
General Power of Attorney - Confers broad powers to the agent for handling financial transactions and business matters but terminates automatically upon the principal's incapacitation or death.
Limited Power of Attorney - Restricts the agent's authority to specific actions or a defined time period, such as handling a real estate closing or accessing a single bank account.
Health Care Power of Attorney - Designates an agent to make medical decisions for the principal specifically when they cannot communicate their own wishes regarding treatment and care.
Springing Power of Attorney - Becomes effective only upon the occurrence of a specific future event, typically the medical incapacitation of the principal as certified by a physician.
Tax Power of Attorney (Form SC-2848) - Authorizes a representative to handle tax matters and communicate directly with the South Carolina Department of Revenue on behalf of the taxpayer.

Legal Requirements for Validity in South Carolina

South Carolina statutes impose specific formalities that must be met for a power of attorney to be legally binding:

Capacity of Principal - The individual creating the document must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind at the time of signing (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-102).
Signature Requirements - The principal must sign the document or direct another to sign in their conscious presence (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-105).
Notarization - A notary public must acknowledge the signature of the principal for the document to be presumed valid (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-105).
Witness Requirements - While financial powers of attorney generally require notarization, instruments intended for recording in deed books require two witnesses (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-5-30).
Health Care Specifics - A Health Care Power of Attorney requires the signatures of two witnesses who are not related to the principal or beneficiaries of the estate (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-5-504).
Recording - The document must be recorded with the Register of Deeds in the appropriate county if the agent handles real estate transactions (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-109).

South Carolina Laws and Regulations

The creation and enforcement of these documents fall under specific state statutes:

South Carolina Uniform Power of Attorney Act - Governs the creation, modification, and termination of financial powers of attorney in the state (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-101 et seq.).
Adult Health Care Consent Act - Establishes the priority of individuals authorized to make health care decisions for a patient unable to consent (S.C. Code Ann. § 44-66-10 et seq.).
Statutory Health Care Power of Attorney - Provides a model form and regulations for designating a health care agent (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-5-504).
Recording of Instruments - Mandates that powers of attorney affecting real property must be recorded to be effective against third parties (S.C. Code Ann. § 30-7-10).

How to Execute a South Carolina Power of Attorney

Step 1: Select an Agent - Choose a trustworthy individual, such as a spouse, close relative, or professional, who understands the responsibilities involved.

Step 2: Determine Scope of Authority - Decide whether the agent requires broad general powers or authority limited to specific assets or medical decisions.

Step 3: Draft the Document - Utilize a template that complies with South Carolina Code Title 62, Article 8 for financial matters or Article 5 for health care.

Step 4: Sign Before Witnesses and Notary - Execute the document in the presence of a notary public and two witnesses to ensure full compliance with recording statutes and health care laws.

Step 5: Distribute Copies - Provide the original to the agent and copies to financial institutions, medical providers, and the county Register of Deeds if real estate is involved.

Revocation of Authority

A principal retains the right to revoke a power of attorney at any time, provided they maintain mental competency. South Carolina law outlines specific methods for termination:

Written Revocation - The principal executes a formal document stating the termination of the agent's authority.
Execution of New Power of Attorney - Creating a new document that explicitly revokes all prior inconsistent powers of attorney.
Divorce or Annulment - The authority granted to a spouse terminates automatically upon the filing of an action for divorce or annulment, unless the document states otherwise (S.C. Code Ann. § 62-8-110).
Recordation of Revocation - If the original power of attorney was recorded with the county, the revocation instrument must also be recorded to be effective against third parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recording is mandatory if the agent will be handling real estate transactions or executing deeds. For other financial or medical matters, recording is generally not required by law but may be recommended for safekeeping.

No, all authority granted under a power of attorney terminates immediately upon the death of the principal. The executor or personal representative named in the will takes over the management of the estate at that point.

A durable power of attorney remains valid and effective even if the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. A non-durable power of attorney automatically ceases to be effective the moment the principal loses the capacity to make decisions.

Yes, South Carolina law allows a principal to appoint co-agents. The document must specify whether these agents may act independently or if they must act jointly and by majority decision.

South Carolina law prohibits the attending physician, employees of the attending physician, or employees of the health care facility where the patient resides from serving as witnesses. Additionally, at least one witness must not be related to the principal by blood or marriage.

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