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Power of Attorney

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General Durable Power of Attorney

Parcel No.:

Prepared by:

Return to:

GENERAL DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY

(Delaware Code 12-49A-101 et seq.)

THE POWERS YOU GRANT BELOW ARE EFFECTIVE
IF YOU BECOME DISABLED OR INCOMPETENT

NOTICE

As the person signing this durable power of attorney you are the Principal.

The purpose of this power of attorney is to give the person you designate (your "Agent") broad powers to handle your property, which may include powers to sell, dispose of, or encumber any real or personal property without advance notice to you or approval by you.

This power of attorney does not authorize your Agent to make health-care decisions for you.

Unless you specify otherwise, your Agent's authority will continue even if you become incapacitated, or until you die or revoke the power of attorney, or until your Agent resigns or is unable to act for you. You should select someone you trust to serve as your Agent.

This power of attorney does not impose a duty on your Agent to exercise granted powers, but when powers are exercised, your Agent must use due care to act for your benefit and in accordance with this power of attorney.

Your Agent must keep your funds and other property separate from your Agent's funds and other property.

A court can take away the powers of your Agent if it finds your Agent is not acting properly.

The powers and duties of an Agent under a durable power of attorney are explained more fully in Delaware Code, Title 12, Chapter 49A, Section 49A-114 and Sections 49A-201 through 49A-217.

If there is anything about this form that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer of your own choosing to explain it to you.

Principal

Date

KNOWN BY ALL PERSONS PRESENT, THAT:

I, , whose address is , "Principal", execute this General Durable Power of Attorney and do hereby make, constitute and appoint:

, whose address is , "Agent" or "Attorney-in-Fact", as my attorney-in-fact TO ACT IN MY NAME, PLACE AND STEAD in any way which I myself could do as if I were personally present and to and to the extent that I am permitted by law to act through an agent, pursuant to the following provisions:

1. EFFECTIVENESS OF POWER OF ATTORNEY:

This instrument is to be construed and interpreted as a general durable power of attorney effective only upon my disability, incompetency or incapacity. It is my intent that the authority conferred herein upon my Agent shall be exercisable only upon my subsequent disability, incompetency or incapacity. No person who may act in reliance upon the authority granted to my Agent herein shall incur any liability to me or my estate as a result of permitting my Agent to exercise any such power.

2. GRANT OF POWERS:

I grant to my Agent full power and authorization to do everything necessary in exercising any of the powers herein granted by this power of attorney as fully as I might or could do if personally present. My agent shall have full power of substitution or revocation. I hereby ratify and confirm all that my Agent lawfully does or causes to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the powers herein granted. My Agent shall have the power to exercise or perform any act, power, duty, right or obligation whatsoever that I now have or may hereinafter acquire, relating to any person, matter, transaction or property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, now owned or hereafter acquired by me, including, without limitation, the following specifically enumerated powers:

(a) Powers of Collection and Payment:

(1) To forgive, request, demand, sue for, recover, collect, receive and hold all sums of money, accounts, annuities, bequests, bonds, certificates of deposit, checks, commercial paper, debts, deposits, devises, dividends, drafts, dues, insurance, interests, legacies, notes, pension, profit sharing, retirement, social security, stock certificates and other contractual benefits and proceeds, all documents of title, all property, real or personal, intangible or tangible, and property rights and demands whatsoever, liquidated or unliquidated, now or hereafter owned by, or due, owing, payable or belonging to, me or in which I have or may hereafter acquire an interest.

(2) To have, use, and take all lawful means and equitable and legal remedies and proceedings in my name for the collection and recovery thereof, and to adjust, sell, compromise, and agree for the same, and to execute and deliver for me, on my behalf, and in my name, all endorsements, releases receipts, or other sufficient discharges for the same.

(b) Property Matters:

(1) To acquire, purchase, exchange and sell, or grant options to sell, mortgage, pledge, lease, sell and convey real or personal property, tangible or intangible, or interests therein, on such terms and conditions as my Agent shall deem proper, with full authority to sign, endorse, execute and deliver any sales agreement, deed, bill of sale and all other instruments or documents pertaining to the sale of any of my real or personal property; and to enter into bonds, contracts, mortgages and deeds connected therewith.

(2) To sell, assign, transfer, convey, exchange, deed, mortgage, pledge, lease, let, license, demise, remise, quitclaim, bargain or otherwise dispose of any or all of my real estate, stocks, bonds, evidences of indebtedness and other securities and other personal tangible and intangible or mixed property, or any custody, possession, interest or right therein at public or private sale, upon such terms, consideration, and conditions as my said attorney shall deem advisable and to execute, acknowledge and deliver such instruments and writings of whatsoever kind and nature as may be necessary, convenient or proper in the premises.

(c) Management Powers:

To maintain, repair, improve, invest, manage, insure, rent, lease, encumber, and in any manner deal with any real or personal property, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein that I now own or may hereafter acquire in my name and for my benefit, upon such terms and conditions as my Agent shall deem proper;

(d) Banking Powers:

To make, receive and endorse checks and drafts, deposit and withdraw funds, acquire and redeem certificates of deposit, in banks, savings and loan associations, and other institutions, execute or release such deeds of trust or other security agreements as may be necessary or proper in the exercise of the rights and powers herein granted;

(e) Business Interests:

To conduct or participate in any lawful business of whatever nature for me and in my name; to execute partnership agreements and amendments thereto; to incorporate, reorganize, merge, consolidate, recapitalize, sell, liquidate or dissolve any business; to elect or employ officers, directors and agents; to carry out the provisions of any agreement for the sale of any business interest or the stock therein; and to exercise voting rights with respect to stock, either in person or by proxy, and to exercise stock options;

(f) Safe Deposit Boxes:

To have access at any time or times to any safe deposit box rented by me, wheresoever located, and to remove all or part of the contents thereof, and to surrender or relinquish said safe deposit box, and any institution in which any such safe deposit box may be located shall not incur any liability to me or my estate as a result of permitting my Agent to exercise this power;

(g) Power to Hold Property and Make Investments:

The power to hold or acquire any property, real or personal, or securities, regardless of whether such property or securities are a so-called “Legal” investment, where such course is, in the said Agent’s opinion, for my best interest;

(h) Power to Borrow:

To borrow any sum or sums of money on such terms (including the power to borrow against the cash surrender value of any life insurance policy issued on my life), and with such security, whether real or personal property, as my Agent may think fit, and for that purpose to execute all promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, and other instruments which may be necessary or proper;

(i) Disclaimer:

To exercise or release powers of appointment in whole or in part and to disclaim or renounce in whole or in part any interest that I might otherwise have as a joint owner, beneficiary, heir or otherwise and in exercising such discretion, my Agent may take into account such matters as shall include but shall not be limited to any reduction in estate or inheritance taxes on my estate, and the effect of such renunciation or disclaimer upon persons interested in my estate and persons who would receive the renounced or disclaimed property;

(j) Trusts:

To transfer, assign and convey any property or interest in property, the legal or equitable title to which is in my name, to any trust of which I am the primary beneficiary during my lifetime and under the terms of which I expressly have the power to amend or revoke such trust, and to exercise any right of withdrawal of income and/or principal which I may have pursuant to the terms and conditions of such trust, whether such trust was created before or after the execution of this power of attorney;

(k) Power to Change Beneficiaries on Any Insurance Policies on my Life:

To change the beneficiaries on any insurance policies on my life; provided, however, that neither such right and power, nor any other rights and powers, shall be exercisable with respect to any policies of life insurance which may at any time be owned by me on the life of my Agent herein named.

(l) Executing Government Vouchers.

To execute vouchers in my behalf for any and all allowances, compensation and reimbursements properly payable to me by the Government of the United States or any agency or department thereof.

(m) Depositing Money and Other Property.

To deposit in my attorney's or my name, or jointly in both our names, in any banking institution, funds or property, and to withdraw any part or all of my deposits at any time made by me in my behalf.

(n) Recovering Possession of Property.

To eject, remove or relieve tenants or other persons from, and recover possession of, any property, real, personal or mixed in which I now or hereafter may have an interest.

(o) Litigation.

To institute, maintain, defend, compromise, arbitrate or otherwise dispose of, any and all actions, suits, attachments or other legal proceedings for or against me.

(p) Tax Returns.

To prepare and execute any tax returns, including, but not limited to, Federal income tax returns, State income tax returns, Social Security tax returns, and Federal and State information and estimated returns; to execute any claims for refund, protests, applications for abatement, petitions to the United States Board of Tax Appeals or any other Board or Court, Federal or State, consents and waivers to determination and assessment of taxes and consents and waivers agreeing to a later determination and assessment of taxes than is provided by statute of limitations; to receive and endorse and collect any checks in settlement of any refund of taxes; to examine and to request and receive copies of any tax returns, reports and other information from the United States Treasury Department or any other taxing authority, Federal or State, in connection with any of the foregoing matters.

(q) Automobiles.

To execute and deliver to the proper persons and authority any and all documents, instruments and papers necessary to effect proper registration of any automobile in which I now or may hereafter have an interest, or the sale thereof and transfer of legal title thereto as required by law, and to collect and receipt for all monies paid in consideration of such sale and transfer.

3. MISCELLANEOUS:

I grant to the Agent named herein the following additional powers of authority:

(a) In the event any agent named herein should be of the opinion at any time that she or he does not have the expertise to manage all or any part of my assets, I grant to said Agent the right and power to delegate the management powers hereinabove granted over all or any part of my assets to any person(s) or firm(s), and to enter into any management or agency agreements with said person(s) or firm(s), pertaining thereto, with the right on the part of the Agent named herein to revoke and cancel any such agreement at any time upon ninety (90) days’ written notice to said person(s) or firm(s).

(b) I grant full and absolute authority to the Agent named herein, on a noncumulative, yearly basis, to make gifts to my children, in trust or otherwise, as well as to their spouses, and to their children, in trust or otherwise, with the amount of gifts to each such person each year not to exceed that amount which is excludable from the total amount of gifts made during such year under Section 2503(b) Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(c) I further authorize and empower the Agent named herein to use and apply so much of the income and principal of the assets comprising my estate as may be necessary or desirable, in the sole discretion of said Agent, for my maintenance and support. Any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Agent shall have no power or authority to use or apply the principal to discharge any legal obligation that the agent or any other person may have to support me or any dependent or beneficiary or mine, except to the extent that there are no assets reasonably available to the person having the obligation of support to pay the same.

(d) I further authorize and empower my Agent to engage, employ and dismiss any agents, clerks, servants, attorneys-at-law, accountants, investment advisors, custodians, or other persons in and about the performance of these presents as my Agent shall think fit.

Any decisions made by the said Agent with respect to the matters set forth hereinabove in sections 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all of the beneficiaries of my estate, and said Agent shall be released and discharged of and from all liability for any such decisions that she or he may make in good faith with respect thereto.

GRANT OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)

My agent MAY NOT do any of the following specific acts for me UNLESS I have INITIALed the specific authority listed below:

(CAUTION: Granting any of the following will give your agent the authority to take actions that could significantly reduce your property or change how your property is distributed at your death. INITIAL ONLY the specific authority you WANT to give your agent.)

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

Make a gift, subject to the limitations of the Delaware Uniform Power of Attorney Act and any special instructions in this power of attorney

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

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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (OPTIONAL)

You may give special instructions on the following lines:

4. INTERPRETATION AND GOVERNING LAW:

This instrument is to be construed and interpreted as a general durable power of attorney. The enumeration of specific powers herein is not intended to, nor does it, limit or restrict the general powers herein granted to my Agent. This instrument is executed and delivered in the State of DELAWARE, and the laws of the State of DELAWARE shall govern all questions as to the validity of this power and the construction of its provisions. This instrument is intended to be effective in all states of the United States and in all foreign countries.

5. INDEMNITY:

I hereby bind myself to indemnify my Agent and any successor who shall so act, against any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, actions and causes of action, including expenses, costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees which my Agent at any time may sustain or incur in connection with carrying out the authority granted her or him in this power of attorney.

6. NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN OR CONSERVATOR:

In the event court proceedings are hereafter commenced to appoint a guardian, conservator or other fiduciary to take charge of my person, or to manage and conserve my property, I hereby nominate and appoint my Agent above-named, as my guardian, conservator, or other fiduciary, to serve without bond unless otherwise required by a court of competent jurisdiction.

7. REVOCATION:

This general durable power of attorney may be voluntarily revoked by me by written instrument signed by me and delivered to my Agent. My guardian may also revoke this instrument by written instrument signed by him or her and delivered to my Agent. Any affidavit executed by my Agent stating that she or he does not have, at the time of doing any act pursuant to this power of attorney, actual knowledge of the revocation or termination of this power of attorney, is, in the absence of fraud, conclusive proof of the nonrevocation or nontermination of the power at that time.

8. DEATH:

My death shall not revoke or terminate this agency as to my Agent or any other person who, without actual knowledge of my death, acts in good faith under this power of attorney. Any action so taken, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, shall be binding upon me and my heirs, devises, and personal representatives.

9. SUBSTITUTE AGENT:

If ceases to act as my Agent due to death, incapacity, or resignation, I appoint , to serve as my Agent.

10. JOINT POWER:

If I name two persons to serve as my Agent hereunder, it is my intent that the power granted to them shall be a joint power, which shall and must be exercised by them together as they may from time to time act on my behalf. No action or transaction requiring a signature will be effective or binding without both such persons’ signatures affixed to the written instrument(s) reflecting the action or transaction.

FURTHER, I do authorize my aforesaid attorney to execute, acknowledge and deliver any instrument under seal or otherwise, and to do all things necessary to carry out the intent hereof, hereby granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to act in and concerning the premises as fully and effectually as I may do if personally present.

PROVIDED, however, that all business transacted hereunder for me or for my account shall be transacted in my name, and that all endorsements and instruments executed by my said attorney for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing powers shall contain my name, followed by that of my said attorney and the designation "attorney-in-fact".

My agent is entitled to reasonable compensation and reimbursement for reasonable expenses for services rendered as agent under this power of attorney, if desired.

TO INDUCE ANY THIRD PARTY TO ACT HEREUNDER, I HEREBY AGREE THAT ANY THIRD PARTY RECEIVING A DULY EXECUTED COPY OR FACSIMILE OF THIS INSTRUMENT MAY ACT HEREUNDER, AND THAT REVOCATION OR TERMINATION HEREOF SHALL BE INEFFECTIVE AS TO SUCH THIRD PARTY UNLESS AND UNTIL ACTUAL NOTICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH REVOCATION OR TERMINATION SHALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY SUCH THIRD PARTY, AND I FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY HEIRS, EXECUTORS, LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES AND ASSIGNS, HEREBY AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ANY SUCH THIRD PARTY FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE AGAINST SUCH THIRD PARTY BY REASON OF SUCH THIRD PARTY HAVING RELIED ON THE PROVISIONS OF THIS INSTRUMENT.

THIS DURABLE GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY MAY BE REVOKED BY ME AT ANY TIME.

Signed this day of , 20.

(Principal's Signature)

(Principal's Printed Name)

The principal has had an opportunity to read the above form and has signed and executed the above form in my presence as the free act and deed of the Principal. I, the undersigned, being over 18 years of age, not related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption; or entitled to any portion of the estate of the principal under the principal's now existing will or codicil or amendment thereto or trust instrument, witness the principal's signature at the request and in the presence of the principal, on the day and year above set out.

Witness:

Name

Address

AGENT'S CERTIFICATION

I, , have read the attached durable power of attorney and I am the person identified as the Agent or identified as the Agent for the Principal. To the best of my knowledge this power has not been revoked. I hereby acknowledge that, in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary in the durable power of attorney, when I act as Agent:

I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the Principal.

I shall keep the assets of the Principal separate from my assets.

I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.

I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts and disbursements on behalf of the Principal.

I shall, to the extent reasonably practicable under the circumstances, keep in regular contact with the Principal and communicate with the Principal.

Agent

Date

State of Delaware

County of

(date)

This instrument was acknowledged before me on by .

________________________________

Notary Public

Print Name:

(Seal, if any)

My commission expires:

(Optional) Acceptance by Agent

I, , being fully advised in the premises, do hereby accept appointment as the attorney in fact for the principal. Acting without execution hereof shall be deemed acceptance.

DATED, this the day of , 20.

Agent

Enter text

What a Power of Attorney Is and when it’s used

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document by which one person (the principal) grants another person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) authority to act on the principal’s behalf. POAs may be limited, durable, or springing, and they can cover financial, healthcare, or other specific matters. Durable POAs remain effective after incapacity; springing POAs take effect when a specified condition occurs. Electronic execution and delivery are generally accepted under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws where adopted.

Why a Power of Attorney matters for planning and operations

A properly drafted POA ensures continuity of decision-making, avoids court-appointed guardianship, and lets trusted agents manage finances or healthcare when the principal cannot. It clarifies scope, duration, and limits of authority and supports delegation for transactions that require timely action.

Why a Power of Attorney matters for planning and operations

Who typically creates or receives a Power of Attorney

Common users span individuals planning for incapacity, families coordinating care, and professionals handling transactions.

  • Individuals planning estate and incapacity decisions
  • Family caregivers or designated healthcare agents
  • Banks, brokers, and legal counsel reviewing authority

Each party should confirm jurisdictional notarization and witness requirements, and consider professional review for high-value or unusual powers.

Core parts of a professional Power of Attorney

A clear POA contains standardized sections that define who acts, what they can do, how long the authority lasts, and how it can be revoked.

Principal and Agent

Full legal names and contact details for the principal and each agent, plus any successor agents, to avoid identity disputes and ensure proper attribution.

Scope of Authority

Explicit powers granted (financial, real estate, banking, healthcare) and any exclusions; specificity prevents overbroad interpretation and vendor refusal to accept the POA.

Durability

A clause stating whether the POA continues after the principal’s incapacity; durable language is required for post-incapacity authority.

Effective Date

The date or triggering event that activates the POA (immediate, specified date, or springing condition) and related proof requirements.

Notarization & Witnesses

Notary acknowledgement and any witness attestations required by state law; these affect recording and acceptance by third parties.

Revocation Clause

How the principal may revoke the POA, notice requirements to third parties, and terms for termination to limit unauthorized continuation.

Step-by-step: preparing and executing a Power of Attorney

Follow a standard sequence to draft, verify, sign, and record the POA to minimize acceptance problems.

  • 01
    Draft the document: Specify powers, duration, and agent details.
  • 02
    Review requirements: Confirm notarization and witness rules for the governing state.
  • 03
    Execute before notary: Sign in presence of notary and required witnesses.
  • 04
    Distribute copies: Share certified copies with institutions and retain originals.

Typical handling and routing for a completed POA

Execution, verification, and delivery follow a short workflow that varies by the transaction type and receiving party.

  • Execute: Principal signs before a notary and any required witnesses.
  • Authenticate: Notary or receiving institution verifies ID and notarization.
  • File or Record: Record if required for real estate transactions.
  • Provide copies: Deliver certified copies to banks, insurers, or healthcare providers.

Suggested digital workflow settings for POA execution

Configure signing, authentication, and retention settings to match legal and institutional requirements.

Field Configuration
Authentication Level Email + SMS code for signer verification
Notarization Mode In-person notarization or RON session as allowed
Witness Capture Add witness signature fields when state requires
Retention and Audit Enable audit trail and long-term storage

Formats, integrations, and technical considerations

Ensure the eSignature platform supports the file formats, integrations, and authentication methods required for acceptance.

  • File Types: PDF/A and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connects to Salesforce, NetSuite, and Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Supports SMS codes, KBA, and SSO

Confirm the receiving bank or agency accepts electronically signed and notarized POAs and that stored copies meet retention and audit requirements.

Security and compliance considerations for e-signed POAs

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Detailed timestamp, IP, and action logs
HIPAA: BAA available for healthcare use
21 CFR Part 11: Supported where required
SOC 2: SOC 2 Type II compliant
ESIGN / UETA: Meets ESIGN and UETA technical criteria

Comparison: signNow and other eSignature vendors

Pricing and feature availability vary by vendor and plan; the table summarizes starting price, trial availability, bulk-send, audit trail, and HIPAA support.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Common preparation pitfalls to avoid

  • Using informal names instead of the principal’s legal name, which can cause institutions to reject the POA
  • Failing to notarize or obtain required witnesses per state law, creating acceptance delays or refusal
  • Granting overly broad authority without clear limits, exposing the principal to unnecessary financial risk
  • Not updating or revoking the POA after life events, which can leave outdated agents empowered

Risks and consequences of an incorrect or invalid POA

Unauthorized Acts: Agent actions may be voidable or lead to liability
Third-Party Refusal: Banks or title companies may decline to accept noncompliant POAs
Probate Delay: Courts may require guardianship if a valid POA is absent
Financial Loss: Ambiguous language can permit misuse of assets
Criminal Exposure: Fraudulent signatures or misrepresentation can lead to charges
Recordkeeping Gaps: Missing audit trails complicate disputes

Real-world examples of Power of Attorney use

Examples show how organizations and individuals apply POAs in practice and the benefits of clear execution and recordkeeping.

Optica Ventures — Operations

A small investment firm used a durable POA for continuity during principal incapacity.

  • The agent handled banking and contract renewals.
  • Brian Fitzgibbons, COO, noted the interface is simple to use and helped maintain client service without in-person transactions.

Martin Properties — Real Estate

A property management owner executed a limited POA to delegate closings.

  • The agent executed deeds and contracts.
  • Tim Martin, Founder, reported compliant online execution and efficient handling of transactions on mobile or offline workflows.

Key timing and processing expectations

Timing depends on the POA’s effective date, recording needs, and any revocation or acceptance procedures by recipient institutions.

Effective Date:

The POA takes effect on the specified date or triggering event

Notarization Timing:

Sign in presence of notary at execution

Recording for Real Estate:

Record before closing when the POA conveys property

Revocation Notice:

Revocation is effective on delivery to third parties

RON Record Retention:

Audio/video typically retained 5–10 years under state rules

Frequently asked questions about Powers of Attorney

Answers to common questions about electronic execution, notarization, revocation, and acceptance by third parties.


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