---
title: "Power of Attorney Signing Requirements by State | MCC"
description: "Notary, witnesses, agent acknowledgment and real estate recording rules for a power of attorney in all 50 states and DC, from each state's own pages."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-by-state"
---

Free table · Power of attorney

# Power of attorney signing requirements by state

What each state asks for when a power of attorney is signed: a notary, witnesses, an agent's acknowledgment, recording before a real estate sale, and whether the state has an official form.

✓ New Jersey commissioned notary, no. 50244803, insured for errors and omissions. [See the credentials](/about/credentials)

**Quick answer.** Plan on a notary for a financial power of attorney. Some states add witnesses (two in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland), a few make the agent sign an acknowledgment before acting, and a few require the document to be recorded before the agent signs a deed. Healthcare powers usually take two witnesses or a notary.

Signing soon? The [power of attorney signing checklist](/notary/power-of-attorney-signing-checklist) turns one state's rules into a list for the signing day, for a financial or a healthcare document.

## Signing rules in all 50 states and DC

Select a column heading to sort. "Recommended" means notarizing isn't a condition of validity, but an acknowledged signature is presumed genuine. "Not in the act" means the power of attorney statute we read doesn't require recording; a title company may still ask. State names with a link have their own page.

| | | | | | | | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Alabama | Not confirmed | Recommended | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://alabamawings.alacourt.gov/media/1040/managing-someone-elses-money-in-alabama-help-for-agents-under-a-power-of-attorney.pdf) |
| Alaska | Not confirmed | Required | None | No | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/docs/poa-booklet.pdf) | [Official page](https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/docs/poa-booklet.pdf) |
| Arizona | Not confirmed | Required | 1 | Not confirmed | Not in the act | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.azleg.gov/ars/14/05501.htm) |
| Arkansas | Yes (2011) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=/ACTS/2021R/Public/ACT804.pdf) | [Official page](https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2011%2FPublic%2FACT805.pdf) |
| California | Not confirmed | Notary or witnesses | 2, or a notary | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/wills-estates-probate/legal-documents) | [Official page](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/wills-estates-probate/legal-documents) |
| Colorado | Yes (2009) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://lawhelp.colorado.gov/creating-a-power-of-attorney) | [Official page](https://lawhelp.colorado.gov/creating-a-power-of-attorney) |
| [Connecticut](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-connecticut) | Yes (2015) | Recommended | 2 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://www.ctprobate.gov/es/documents/2016-legislative-summary.pdf) | [Official page](https://www.ctprobate.gov/es/documents/2015-legislative-summary.pdf) |
| [Delaware](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-delaware) | No | Not confirmed | 1 | On the official form | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c049a/sc03/index.html) | [Official page](https://www.delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c049a/index.html) |
| District of Columbia | Yes (2023) | Required | None | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/21-2603.01) | [Official page](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/21-2601.01) |
| [Florida](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-florida) | No | Required | 2 | No | May be asked | No | [Official page](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2026/Chapter709/All) |
| Georgia | Yes (2017) | Required | Yes, number not stated | No | Optional | [Yes](https://dca.georgia.gov/document/forms/powerofattorneypdf/download) | [Official page](https://georgia.gov/establish-power-attorney) |
| Hawaii | Yes (2014) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2017/HRS-Chapter-PDF%27s/HRS_0551E.pdf) | [Official page](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2017/HRS-Chapter-PDF%27s/HRS_0551E.pdf) |
| Idaho | Yes (2008) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/statutesrules/idstat/Title15/T15CH12.pdf) | [Official page](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/statutesrules/idstat/Title15/T15CH12.pdf) |
| [Illinois](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-illinois) | No | Required | 1 | No | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/forms/documents/poaproperty2015.pdf) | [Official page](https://gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/forms/documents/poaproperty2015.pdf) |
| Indiana | Not confirmed | Notary or witnesses | Or a notary | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_30/Article_5/Chapter_4.pdf) |
| Iowa | Yes (2014) | Required | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633B.pdf) | [Official page](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/633B.pdf) |
| Kansas | No | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Optional | [Yes](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch58/058_006_0052.html) | [Official page](https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch58/058_006_0052.html) |
| Kentucky | Yes (2018) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=50153) |
| Louisiana | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=110030) |
| [Maine](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-maine) | Yes | Required | None | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec5-905.html) |
| [Maryland](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-maryland) | No | Required | 2 | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2010rs/chapters_noln/Ch_689_hb0659E.pdf) | [Official page](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/laws/StatuteText?article=get&section=17-110) |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter190B/Section5-501) |
| [Michigan](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-michigan) | Yes (2023) | Notary or witnesses | 2, or a notary | Yes, before acting | Not in the act | [Yes](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-187-of-2023.pdf) | [Official page](https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-187-of-2023.pdf) |
| [Minnesota](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-minnesota) | Not confirmed | Required | None | Yes, before acting | Optional | [Yes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/523/pdf) | [Official page](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/523/pdf) |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/pol_res/power%20of%20attorney/6DurablePOA-HB468Comparison.pdf) |
| Missouri | No | Required | None | Not confirmed | May be asked | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=404.705) |
| Montana | Yes | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0720/chapter_0310/part_0030/sections_index.html) | [Official page](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0720/chapter_0310/part_0030/sections_index.html) |
| Nebraska | Yes (2012) | Required | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/display_html.php?begin_section=30-4001&end_section=30-4045) | [Official page](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/display_html.php?begin_section=30-4001&end_section=30-4045) |
| [Nevada](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-nevada) | Yes (2009) | Recommended | None | No | Required | [Yes](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-162a.html) | [Official page](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-162a.html) |
| [New Hampshire](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-new-hampshire) | Yes (2017) | Required | None | On the official form | Not in the act | [Yes](https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LVI/564-E/564-E-301.htm) | [Official page](https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/LVI/564-E/564-E-105.htm) |
| [New Jersey](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-new-jersey) | No | Required | None | No | Not in the act | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2000/PL00/109_.HTM) |
| New Mexico | Yes (2007) | Recommended | None | On the official form | Not in the act | [Yes](https://www.aging.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ADA-NM-DURABLE-POA.pdf) | [Official page](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB0231.pdf) |
| [New York](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-new-york) | No | Required | 2 | Yes, before acting | Optional | [Yes](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GOB/5-1513) | [Official page](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GOB/5-1501B) |
| [North Carolina](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-north-carolina) | Yes (2017) | Required | None | No | Required | [Yes](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_32C/Article_3.pdf) | [Official page](https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_32c.html) |
| [North Dakota](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-north-dakota) | No | Required | None | Not confirmed | Not in the act | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t30-1c30.pdf) |
| [Ohio](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-ohio) | Yes | Recommended | None | No | Required | [Yes](https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1337.60v1) | [Official page](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-1337) |
| Oklahoma | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://www.okbar.org/barjournal/november-2021/williams/) | [Official page](https://www.okbar.org/barjournal/november-2021/williams/) |
| Oregon | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2018orlaw0036.pdf) |
| [Pennsylvania](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-pennsylvania) | Not confirmed | Required | 2 | Yes, before acting | Optional | No | [Official page](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/20/00.056..HTM) |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed | Required | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE18/18-16/18-16-2.htm) | [Official page](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE18/18-16/18-16-2.htm) |
| [South Carolina](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-south-carolina) | Yes | Required | Yes, number not stated | No | After incapacity | No | [Official page](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62c008.php) |
| [South Dakota](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-south-dakota) | Yes (2020) | Required | None | No | Optional | [Yes](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/SessionLaw/70792.pdf?Year=2020) | [Official page](https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/SessionLaw/70792.pdf?Year=2020) |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | [Official page](https://www.tn.gov/hfc/health-care-decision-making/advanced-directives-for-health-care-decision-making--english-.html) |
| [Texas](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-texas) | No | Required | None | No | Required | [Yes](https://guides.sll.texas.gov/legal-forms/powers-of-attorney) | [Official page](https://guides.sll.texas.gov/legal-forms/powers-of-attorney) |
| [Utah](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-utah) | Yes (2016) | Required | None | No | Optional | [Yes](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75A/Chapter2/C75A-2_2024090120240501.pdf) | [Official page](https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75A/Chapter2/C75A-2_2024090120240501.pdf) |
| Vermont | Yes (2023) | Recommended | Not confirmed | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/14/127) | [Official page](https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/14/127) |
| Virginia | Yes (2010) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | No | [Official page](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title64.2/chapter16/) |
| [Washington](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-washington) | Yes (2016) | Notary or witnesses | 2, or a notary | No | Not in the act | No | [Official page](https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/rcwpdf/rcw%20%2011%20%20title/rcw%20%2011%20.125%20%20chapter/RCW%20%2011%20.125%20%20COMBINEDCHAPTER.pdf) |
| [West Virginia](/notary/power-of-attorney-requirements-west-virginia) | Yes | Required | None | No | Required | [Yes](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/pdf/39B/) | [Official page](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/pdf/39B/) |
| Wisconsin | Yes (2009) | Recommended | None | No | Not confirmed | [Yes](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/244.pdf) | [Official page](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/244.pdf) |
| Wyoming | Yes (2017) | Recommended | None | No | Not in the act | [Yes](https://wyoleg.gov/2017/Enroll/SF0105.pdf) | [Official page](https://wyoleg.gov/2017/Enroll/SF0105.pdf) |

Signing in New Jersey? MCC Solutions provides [mobile notarization](/notary/mobile-notary), [hospital notarization](/notary/hospital-notary) and [remote online notarization](/notary/remote-online-notarization) for New Jersey signers. Elsewhere, a local notary can help.

## Financial and healthcare documents follow different rules

A financial power of attorney lets an agent handle money and property; a healthcare power of attorney or proxy lets an agent make medical decisions. Several states keep them in separate laws with separate signing rules, and Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin say outright that their financial act doesn't cover health care. The table is about the financial document; the checklist covers both.

## Get it notarized online today

Online notary: closed now · opens 7 AM ET · sessions by appointment · times confirmed by email

A New Jersey notary can notarize this with you on a video call, wherever you are in the U.S. $50 for the session, $10 for each extra signer. Any other fee shows in the booking form before you confirm. Open 7 am to 9 pm ET, every day, by appointment.

**What you need**

- A valid government photo ID
- A computer or phone with a camera
- The unsigned document

[Book an online session](/notary/?service=ron#order)

Our certificate states the act was performed using communication technology, as New Jersey law requires. [What it must say](/notary/remote-online-notarization-certificate-wording)

Most U.S. recipients accept a remotely notarized document; check with whoever will receive it. [What to ask them](/notary/will-my-online-notarization-be-accepted) · [Several signers](/notary/online-notarization-multiple-signers)

## Before the signing

Bring government photo ID, leave the document unsigned until the notary is watching, and bring any witnesses the state requires, who shouldn't be the agent or someone who inherits. When the agent will sell or mortgage property, ask the title company early whether it wants the original, a recorded copy, or the agent's certification.

## Related guides

- [Signing a durable power of attorney, step by step](/notary/guides/durable-power-of-attorney-signing-steps)
- [A limited power of attorney for one task](/notary/guides/limited-power-of-attorney-for-one-task)
- [Signing a healthcare proxy or medical power of attorney](/notary/guides/healthcare-proxy-and-medical-poa-signing)
- [Notarizing a power of attorney in a hospital](/notary/guides/notarizing-a-power-of-attorney-in-a-hospital)
- [A power of attorney signed abroad](/notary/abroad-documents/power-of-attorney-from-abroad)

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the official pages linked in the table. Signing rules change, and a power of attorney gives someone real control over money or medical decisions: have a lawyer prepare or review it. A notary identifies the signer and completes the certificate; a notary doesn't draft the document or explain what it does.

## Common questions

**Does a power of attorney have to be notarized?**

In many states, yes. On the official pages we read, notarization is required in 26 jurisdictions (Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia), and California, Indiana, Michigan and Washington accept a notary or witnesses. In 14 uniform-act states (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming) it isn't a condition of validity, but an acknowledged signature is presumed genuine, which is why banks and recorders expect it.

**Which states require witnesses for a financial power of attorney?**

Two witnesses on top of the notary: Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania. One witness: Arizona, Delaware and Illinois. Georgia and South Carolina require witnesses without the page we read giving a number. California, Washington and Michigan let two witnesses stand in for the notary, and Indiana allows witnesses instead of a notary.

**Does the agent have to sign anything?**

In Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania, yes: the agent signs an acknowledgment of duties (New York's agent signs the power of attorney itself, with an acknowledged signature) before acting. Delaware, New Hampshire and New Mexico put an agent section on the official form. In most uniform-act states an agent accepts simply by acting.

**Do I have to record a power of attorney to sell or mortgage real estate?**

Where the agent will sign a deed or mortgage, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia require the power of attorney to be recorded. South Carolina requires recording before the agent acts after the principal's incapacity. In Florida and Missouri recording may be asked for. Elsewhere the title company or county recorder usually decides; ask before closing.

**What is the Uniform Power of Attorney Act?**

A model law from the Uniform Law Commission that many states adopted with changes. On the states' own statute pages we confirmed it in 27 jurisdictions. Under it a power of attorney is durable unless it says otherwise; in Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Washington it needs durable wording to survive incapacity.

**Why do some cells say 'Not confirmed'?**

We fill in a rule only after reading it on an official page: the state's statute site, a state court self-help page or a state agency. 310 facts are confirmed and 98 are not. A blank is never filled with a guess.

## Related

- [Before deployment: the paperwork checklist](/notary/before-deployment-paperwork)
- [Put your family's emergency plan on paper](/notary/family-emergency-plan)
- [Does this document need a notary? Check by state](/notary/does-it-need-a-notary)
- [The Thanksgiving paperwork talk: what to ask your parents](/tools/guides/thanksgiving-family-paperwork-talk)
- [Snowbird paperwork: handling New Jersey from away](/tools/guides/snowbird-paperwork-while-away-from-nj)
- [Turning 65 paperwork checklist](/tools/guides/turning-65-paperwork-checklist)
- [How do I sign as power of attorney?](/notary/answers/how-to-sign-as-power-of-attorney)

**Download this data:** [CSV](/data/poa-signing.csv) · [JSON](/data/poa-signing.json) · [Field guide, license and citation](/data/poa-signing)

51 jurisdictions, sources checked November 2026. Free under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) with a link back.

## Signing a power of attorney in New Jersey?

[Book a mobile notary](/notary/mobile-notary)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)