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Washington Power of Attorney Form

Published Jan 05, 2026

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A Washington Power of Attorney Form is a legal instrument authorizing an agent to manage financial or medical affairs on behalf of a principal in Washington.

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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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WASHINGTON POWER OF ATTORNEY FORM

NOTICE: THE POWERS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT ARE BROAD AND SWEEPING. THEY ARE EXPLAINED IN THE UNIFORM POWER OF ATTORNEY ACT, CHAPTER 11.125 RCW. 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.

I. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT

This General Power of Attorney is entered into on .

I, (the "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:
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 Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Chapter 11.125 RCW.

(Check the boxes of the subjects you wish to grant. You may check "All of the Above" to grant all listed powers).

Real Property (RCW 11.125.270)

Tangible Personal Property (RCW 11.125.280)

Stocks and Bonds (RCW 11.125.290)

Commodities and Options (RCW 11.125.300)

Banks and Other Financial Institutions (RCW 11.125.310)

Operation of Entity or Business (RCW 11.125.320)

Insurance and Annuities (RCW 11.125.330)

Estates, Trusts, and Other Beneficial Interests (RCW 11.125.340)

Claims and Litigation (RCW 11.125.350)

Personal and Family Maintenance (RCW 11.125.360)

Benefits from Governmental Programs or Civil or Military Service (RCW 11.125.370)

Retirement Plans (RCW 11.125.380)

Taxes (RCW 11.125.390)

All of the Above

IV. GRANT OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)

Under Washington law (RCW 11.125.240), an Agent MAY NOT do any of the following unless the Principal expressly grants such authority.

(Check the boxes below ONLY if you wish to grant these specific powers to your Agent).

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

Make a gift

Create or change rights of survivorship

Create or change a beneficiary designation

Delegate authority granted under the 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

V. DURABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE

(Check ONE box to determine when this power of attorney becomes effective and whether it survives incapacity).

Durable Power of Attorney

Springing Power of Attorney

Non-Durable Power of Attorney

Durable Power of Attorney (Effective Immediately): This Power of Attorney shall become effective immediately upon the date of this instrument and shall not be affected by my subsequent disability or incapacity.

Springing Power of Attorney (Effective upon Incapacity): This Power of Attorney shall become effective only upon my disability or incapacity. For purposes of this provision, I shall be considered disabled or incapacitated if certified in writing by a licensed physician that I am mentally or physically incapable of managing my financial affairs.

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

VI. LIMITATION ON AGENT'S AUTHORITY

An Agent that is not my ancestor, spouse, or descendant MAY NOT use my property to benefit the Agent or a person to whom the Agent owes an obligation of support unless I have included that authority in the Special Instructions below.

VII. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

On the following lines, I give the following special instructions limiting or extending the powers granted to my Agent:

VIII. 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. I agree to indemnify the third party for any claims that arise against the third party because of reliance on this Power of Attorney.

IX. NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN

Nominate a Guardian?

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

Nominee’s Name:
Nominee’s Address:

X. REVOCATION

I hereby revoke any and all general powers of attorney previously executed by me. This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until I revoke it in writing, or until it terminates by operation of law.

XI. GOVERNING LAW

This Power of Attorney shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, specifically the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Chapter 11.125 RCW.

XII. SIGNATURE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Principal:

Signature: _________________________

Print Name: _______________

Date:

Address: _______________

Include Notary Public Section?

XIII. NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of Washington
County of

I certify that I know or have satisfactory evidence that _______________ is the person who appeared before me, and said person acknowledged that (he/she) signed this instrument and acknowledged it to be (his/her) free and voluntary act for the uses and purposes mentioned in the instrument.

Dated:

Signature of Notary Public: _________________________

Print Name:

Title:

My Commission Expires:

(Seal or Stamp)

XIV. AGENT'S CERTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

I, _______________, have read the attached Power of Attorney and am the person identified as the Agent for the Principal. I hereby acknowledge that when I act as Agent:

I shall act in good faith, with care, competence, and diligence, and for the best interest of the Principal.
I shall act loyally for the Principal’s benefit.
I shall not create a conflict of interest that impairs my ability to act impartially in the Principal’s best interest.
I shall keep a record of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions made on behalf of the Principal.
I shall cooperate with any person that has authority to make health care decisions for the Principal.

The Agent:

Signature: _________________________

Print Name: _______________

Date:

Address: _______________

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What is a Washington Power of Attorney Form?

A Washington Power of Attorney Form is a legal instrument that allows an individual, known as the principal, to designate another person, referred to as the agent or attorney-in-fact, to make decisions and act on their behalf. This document serves as a critical component of estate planning and disability preparation by ensuring that financial, property, and healthcare matters continue to be managed if the principal becomes unable to do so personally. The scope of authority granted within the document varies significantly based on the specific type of form selected and the preferences of the principal. Washington State law governs the creation, execution, and validity of these instruments, specifically under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act which standardizes the powers and duties of agents.

Types of Washington Power of Attorney Forms

Residents of Washington may utilize various forms depending on the specific powers they wish to delegate and the duration of that authority. The document must clearly indicate the intentions of the principal regarding the scope of the agent's power.

General Power of Attorney - Grants the agent broad authority to handle financial and legal affairs for the principal while the principal is competent. This authority typically terminates if the principal becomes incapacitated or disabled.
Durable Power of Attorney - Remains effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated or mentally incompetent. This is the most common form used for estate planning purposes to avoid court-appointed guardianship.
Limited Power of Attorney - Restricts the agent's authority to specific actions or a defined time period. This is often used for single transactions, such as signing real estate closing documents or handling a specific business matter.
Medical Power of Attorney - Designates an agent to make health care decisions for the principal if they are unable to communicate their wishes. In Washington, this is often part of a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.
Mental Health Advance Directive - specifically addresses consent to or refusal of psychiatric treatment, medication, and admission to mental health facilities.

Legal Framework and Statutes

Washington operates under specific statutes that define how powers of attorney function, how they must be executed, and the extent of an agent's authority. The state adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) in 2017 to provide clarity and consistency in these legal arrangements.

Washington Uniform Power of Attorney Act - Establishes the creation, validity, and termination of powers of attorney for finances and property (RCW 11.125.010 et seq.).
Natural Death Act - Governs health care directives and the authority to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment (RCW 70.122.010 et seq.).
Mental Health Advance Directives - Allows individuals to give instructions regarding their mental health treatment in the event of incapacity (RCW 71.32.010 et seq.).
Guardianship and Conservatorship - outlines the interaction between court-appointed guardians and appointed agents (RCW 11.130.010 et seq.).

Requirements for Validity in Washington

For a Power of Attorney to be legally binding in Washington, specific execution formalities must be observed. Failure to adhere to these standards may result in the document being rejected by financial institutions or medical facilities.

Signature Requirement - The principal must sign the document or direct another individual to sign it in their conscious presence (RCW 11.125.050).
Notarization or Witnesses - To be presumed genuine and valid, the signature must be acknowledged before a notary public or attested by two or more competent witnesses (RCW 11.125.050).
Mental Capacity - The principal must possess the contractual capacity to understand the nature and consequences of the document at the time of signing.
Agent Eligibility - The agent must be of legal age and not disqualified from serving as a fiduciary.

Agent Duties and Standards of Conduct

Accepting the role of an agent imposes strict fiduciary duties. Washington law mandates that agents act in good faith and in accordance with the principal's reasonable expectations.

Fiduciary Duty - Agents must act loyally for the principal's benefit and avoid conflicts of interest (RCW 11.125.140).
Record Keeping - Agents are required to keep accurate records of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions made on behalf of the principal (RCW 11.125.140).
Non-Commingling - Agents must keep the principal's property separate from their own property unless specific exceptions apply.
Cooperation - Agents must cooperate with a person who has authority to make health care decisions for the principal to carry out the principal's reasonable expectations.

How to Revoke a Power of Attorney

A principal retains the right to revoke a Power of Attorney at any time, provided they have the mental capacity to do so. Revocation effectively ends the agent's authority to act.

Written Revocation - The principal should execute a written statement formally revoking the prior Power of Attorney.
New Power of Attorney - Executing a new Power of Attorney that is inconsistent with a previous one may revoke the earlier document if the new document expressly states so.
Notice to Agent - The principal must inform the agent of the revocation to ensure they stop acting on the principal's behalf.
Notice to Third Parties - Financial institutions, healthcare providers, and other relevant entities must receive a copy of the revocation to prevent unauthorized transactions.
Divorce or Annulment - Filing an action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation automatically terminates a spouse's authority as an agent unless the Power of Attorney states otherwise (RCW 11.125.100).

Frequently Asked Questions

Recording is generally not required for the document to be valid between the principal and agent. Recording with the County Auditor is necessary if the agent will be handling real estate transactions or if the principal wants to create a public record of the authority.

Yes, unless the Power of Attorney specifically prohibits it, an agent is entitled to reasonable compensation for services rendered and reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred. The document may outline a specific fee structure or rely on the statutory standard of reasonableness.

Yes, all authority granted under a standard or durable Power of Attorney terminates immediately upon the death of the principal. At that point, the executor or personal representative named in the will assumes control of the estate.

An immediate Power of Attorney becomes effective as soon as it is signed. A springing Power of Attorney only becomes effective upon the occurrence of a specific event, typically the medical incapacity of the principal as determined by a physician.

No, an agent usually cannot create, amend, revoke, or change the principal's will. Washington law restricts agents from altering estate plans unless the Power of Attorney document expressly grants that specific authority.

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