MAKE YOUR FREE New Jersey Power of Attorney
What is a New Jersey Power of Attorney?
The individual granting permission is called the "principal," and the individual or organization receiving powers is known as the "agent." Suitable for New Jersey residents, our Power of Attorney is made for use in Essex County, Bergen County, Middlesex County, and in every other county or municipality throughout the state. All New Jersey Power of Attorney forms from Rocket Lawyer can be modified for your particular scenario. Creating this official document provides verification to financial institutions and other parties that your representative can sign documents or take other actions for you when you are not present or able.
When to use a New Jersey Power of Attorney:
- You wish to give someone broad authorization to act for you if you are absent or incapable.
- You wish to give someone power to handle certain financial or legal issues in your absence or if you become ill.
- You wish to authorize someone to act on your behalf if case you become legally incompetent or incapacitated.
Sample New Jersey Power of Attorney
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Note to Principal: This Power of attorney does not authorize the agent to make health care decisions for the principal; an agent is authorized to make medical or health care decisions for the principal only if the principal signs an advanced directive for health care in accordance with N.J.S. 26:2H-53 et seq. or N.J.S. 26:2H-103, et seq., as applicable, which names the agent as the principal's health care representative, as defined in N.J.S. 26:2H-55, or as the principal's mental health care representative, as defined in N.J.S. 26:2H-104.
I, , residing at , , , hereby appoint Each Agent may act independently, without the consent of the other Agent. The Agents must act jointly, with the consent of the other Agent.
or if we become legally separated or divorced, If either Agent is unable to serve for any reason, the other Agent shall serve alone. If either Agent is unable to serve for any reason, I appoint , of , , , as my Successor Agent to serve alone. If either Agent is unable to serve for any reason or if we become legally separated or divorced, I appoint , of , , as my Successor Agent to serve alone. If both Agents are unable to serve (either together or independently) I appoint , , , to act as my Alternate Successor Agent to serve alone. I hereby revoke any and all general powers of attorney that previously have been signed by me. I hereby revoke any and all special powers of attorney that previously have been signed by me. I hereby revoke any and all general powers of attorney and special powers of attorney that previously have been signed by me. However, the preceding sentence shall not have the effect of revoking any powers of attorney that are directly related to my health care that previously have been signed by me.
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insurance or annuity accounts
retirement accounts
payable on death savings accounts
payable on death checking accounts
| . Provide for the support and protection of myself, my spouse, or of any minor child I have a duty to support or have established a pattern of prior support, including, without limitation, provision for food, lodging, housing, medical services, recreation and travel; |
. Maintain and/or operate any business that I may own.
. Employ professional and business assistance as may be appropriate, including attorneys, accountants, and real estate Agents.
my homestead as described in the attached Exhibit. any homestead that I now own or may own in the future. my homestead legally described as:
If the Agent is my spouse, then I also hereby appoint , of , as my substitute Agent solely for the purpose of releasing any dower, homestead or other inchoate interest or other property rights (of whatever nature), which under local law may not be released by my spouse.
. Make gifts from my assets to members of my family and to such other persons or charitable organizations with whom I have an established pattern of giving (or if it is appropriate to make such gifts for estate planning and/or tax purposes), to file state and federal gift tax returns, and to file a tax election to split gifts with my spouse, if any. No Agent acting under this instrument, except as specifically authorized in this instrument, shall have the power or authority to (a) gift, appoint, assign or designate any of my assets, interests or rights, directly or indirectly, to such Agent, such Agent's estate, such Agent's creditors, or the creditors of such Agent's estate, (b) exercise any powers of appointment I may hold in favor of such Agent, such Agent's estate, such Agent's creditors, or the creditors of such Agent's estate, or (c) use any of my assets to discharge any of such Agent's legal obligations, including any obligations of support which such Agent may owe to others, excluding those whom I am legally obligated to support.
. To transfer any of my assets to the trustee of any revocable trust created by me, if such trust is in existence at the time of such transfer.
. To utilize my assets to fund a trust not created by me, but to which I have either established a pattern of funding, or to fund a trust created by my Agent for my benefit or the benefit of my dependents, heirs or devisees upon the advice of a financial adviser.
. To create, sign, modify or revoke any trust agreements or other trust documents in an attempt to manage or create a trust that was created for my benefit or the benefit of my dependants, heirs or devisees. This shall include the creation, modification or revocation of any inter vivos, family living, irrevocable or revocable trusts.
. To exercise fiduciary responsibilities that I have a right to delegate.
. Subject to other provisions of this document, my Agent may disclaim any interest, which might otherwise be transferred or distributed to me from any other person, estate, trust, or other entity, as may be appropriate. However, my Agent may not disclaim assets to which I would be entitled, if the result is that the disclaimed assets pass directly or indirectly to my Agent or my Agent's estate.
. Have access to my healthcare and medical records and statements regarding billing, insurance and payments.
. Act on my behalf for the purposes of managing, distributing, and terminating my digital assets. For the purposes of this Power of Attorney, digital assets shall mean electronic assets that are stored on my computers, electronic devices, or on any online account, as identified in the Digital Assets Memorandum of this Power of Attorney. Online accounts include, but are not limited to, social-networking sites, online backup services, servers, email accounts, photo and document sharing sites, financial and business accounts, domain names, virtual property, websites, and blogs. The Digital Assets Memorandum, with associated websites, usernames, passwords, and related information, is hereby incorporated by reference into this Power of Attorney and shall be distributed to my Agent designated in this Power of Attorney. My Agent shall have the power and authority to manage, conduct, and to exercise all of my legal rights and powers relating to my digital assets, including all rights and powers that I may acquire in the future. My Agent's powers shall include, but not be limited to, the power to access, download, and backup digital assets, convert my file formats, access any and all devices necessary to manage digital assets, and clear computer caches and delete files.
. Open, maintain or close bank accounts (including, but not limited to, checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit), brokerage accounts, retirement plan accounts, and other similar accounts with financial institutions. This power shall include the authority to conduct any business with any banking or financial institution with respect to any of my accounts, including, but not limited to, making deposits and withdrawals, negotiating or endorsing any checks or other instruments with respect to any such accounts, obtaining bank statements, passbooks, drafts, money orders, warrants, and certificates or vouchers payable to me by any person, firm, corporation, or political entity.
. Open, maintain or close the following specific accounts. This power shall include the authority to conduct any transaction for these accounts, including, but not limited to, making deposits and withdrawals, negotiating or endorsing any checks or other instruments with respect to any such accounts, obtaining bank statements, passbooks, drafts, money orders, warrants, and certificates or vouchers payable to me by any person, firm, corporation, or political entity.
Perform any act necessary to deposit, negotiate, sell, or transfer any note, bond, security, or draft of the United States of America, including U.S. Treasury Securities.
Institute, supervise, prosecute, defend, intervene in, abandon, compromise, arbitrate, settle, dismiss, and appeal from any and all legal, equitable, judicial or administrative hearings, actions, suits, proceedings, attachments, arrests or distresses, involving me in any way.
. . . Sell or convey any interest of mine in real estate (whether currently owned or later acquired). Sell or convey any interest of mine in real estate located at Sell or convey any interest of mine in real estate located at
The total sale price must be at least .
If the Agent is my spouse, then I also hereby appoint of , , as my substitute Agent solely for the purpose of releasing any dower, homestead or other inchoate interest or other property rights (of whatever nature), which under local law may not be released by my spouse.
. . . Mortgage or encumber any interest of mine in real estate (whether currently owned or later acquired). Mortgage or encumber any interest of mine in real estate located at: Mortgage or encumber any interest of mine in real estate located at:
If the Agent is my spouse, then I also hereby appoint of , , as my substitute Agent solely for the purpose of releasing any dower, homestead or other inchoate interest or other property rights (of whatever nature), which under local law may not be released by my spouse.
. . . Manage, insure, improve, repair, collect rents, execute leases, or take any other action that a landlord might take, with respect to any interest of mine in real estate (whether currently owned or later acquired). Manage, insure, improve, repair, collect rents, execute leases, or take any other action that a landlord might take, with respect to any interest of mine in real estate located at: Manage, insure, improve, repair, collect rents, execute leases, or take any other action that a landlord might take, with respect to any interest of mine in real estate located at: . . . Sell or convey any personal property that I might own now or in the future, tangible or intangible, on such terms and conditions as my Agent deems appropriate. Sell or convey .
This power shall include the power to (i) sign contracts of sale and documents to transfer title (including bills of sale), and (ii) accept a security interest for any unpaid portion of the purchase price.
This power shall include the power to (i) obtain credit upon such terms as my Agent may deem appropriate, subject to the limitations (if any) stated above, (ii) sign any documents (including notes, credit agreements, security agreements, and financing statements), and (iii) take any other action that may be required to complete the above transactions.
, , .
This power shall include the power to: (i) make and carry out decisions regarding sales, purchases, employees, loans, and equipment, and (ii) take any action needed (at the discretion of my Agent) to operate the business.
This power shall be limited to the power to make decisions in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, decisions regarding sales, purchases, employees, and equipment.
. Prepare, sign, and file documents with any governmental body or agency. Prepare, sign, and file documents with any governmental body or agency. Prepare, sign, and file documents with any governmental body or agency
. Prepare, sign, and file income, gift and other tax returns of all kinds with federal, state, local, and other governmental bodies, and any Power of Attorney form appointing an Agent required by the Internal Revenue Service and/or any state or local taxing authority.
. Obtain information or documents from any government or its agencies, and represent me in all tax matters, including the authority to negotiate, compromise, or settle any matter with such government or agency.
. Prepare applications, provide information, and perform any other act reasonably requested by any government or its agencies in connection with governmental benefits (including medical, military and social security benefits), and to appoint anyone, including my Agent, to act as my "Representative Payee" for the purpose of receiving Social Security benefits.
. Act on my behalf with respect to the following matters: . Act on my behalf with respect to the following matters: . Act on my behalf with respect to the following matters:-Exercise all stock rights on my behalf as my proxy, including all rights with respect to stocks, bonds, debentures, commodities, options or other investments.
-Enter into binding contracts on my behalf.
-Purchase, maintain, surrender, collect, or cancel (a) life insurance or annuities of any kind on my life or on the life of anyone in whom I have an insurable interest, (b) liability insurance protecting me and my estate against third party claims, (c) hospital insurance, medical insurance, Medicare supplement insurance, custodial care insurance, and disability income insurance for me or any of my dependents, and (d) casualty insurance insuring assets of mine against loss or damage due to fire, theft, or other commonly insured risk; to pay all insurance premiums, to select any options under such policies, to increase coverage under any such policy, to borrow against any such policy, to pursue all insurance claims on my behalf, to adjust insurance losses, and the foregoing powers shall apply to private and public plans, including but not limited to Medicare, Medicaid, SSI and Worker's Compensation; to designate and change beneficiaries of insurance policies insuring my life and beneficiaries under any annuity contract in which I have an interest; to decrease coverage under or cancel any of these policies described above; to receive and make such disposition of the cash value on termination of any such policy as my Agent deems appropriate. However, my Agent shall have no power or authority whatsoever with respect to any interest in or incidents of ownership in any policy of insurance I may own on the life of my Agent.
-Create and contribute to an employee benefit plan, including a plan for a self-employed individual, for my benefit; to elect retirement on my behalf; to select any payment option under any IRA or employee benefit plan in which I am a participant, including plans for self-employed individuals, or to change options I have selected; to make voluntary contributions to such plans; to make "roll-overs" of plan benefits into other retirement plans; to apply for and receive payments and benefits; to waive rights given to nonemployee spouses under state or federal law; to borrow money or purchase assets from such plans, if authorized by such plans; to make revocable and irrevocable beneficiary designations and to change revocable beneficiary designations; to consent and/or waive consent in connection with the designation of beneficiaries and the selection of joint and survivor annuities under any employee benefit plan.
-Employ professional and business advisors as may be appropriate, including attorneys, accountants, and real estate Agents.
-Add, delete or change beneficiaries to any financial accounts I own including insurance policies, annuities, retirement accounts, payable on death savings or checking account or other investments.
-Add, delete or change beneficiaries to
insurance or annuity accounts
retirement accounts
payable on death savings accounts
payable on death checking accounts
Act on my behalf for the purposes of managing, distributing, and terminating my digital assets. For the purposes of this Power of Attorney, digital assets shall mean electronic assets that are stored on my computers, electronic devices, or on any online account, as identified in the Digital Assets Memorandum of this Power of Attorney. Online accounts include, but are not limited to, social-networking sites, online backup services, servers, email accounts, photo and document sharing sites, financial and business accounts, domain names, virtual property, websites, and blogs. The Digital Assets Memorandum, with associated websites, usernames, passwords, and related information, is hereby incorporated by reference into this Power of Attorney and shall be distributed to my Agent designated in this Power of Attorney. My Agent shall have the power and authority to manage, conduct, and to exercise all of my legal rights and powers relating to my digital assets, including all rights and powers that I may acquire in the future. My Agent's powers shall include, but not be limited to, the power to access, download, and backup digital assets, convert my file formats, access any and all devices necessary to manage digital assets, and clear computer caches and delete files.
My Agent shall not be liable for any loss that results from a judgment error that was made in good faith. However, my Agent shall be liable for willful misconduct or the failure to act in good faith while acting under the authority of this Power of Attorney. A Successor Agent shall not be liable for acts of a prior Agent.
My Agent shall provide an accounting for all funds handled and all acts performed as my Agent as required under state law or upon my request or the request of any authorized personal representative, fiduciary or court of record acting on my behalf.
I hereby appoint
My Digital Agent shall not be entitled to any compensation, during my lifetime or upon my death, for any services provided as my Digital Agent. My Digital Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for any services provided as my Digital Agent. My Digital Agent shall not be entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of carrying out any provision of this Power of Attorney. My Digital Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred as a result of carrying out any provision of this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney is granted in, and shall be governed by the laws of the state of New Jersey; however, I intend that this Power of Attorney be universally recognized and that it be universally admissible to recordation. In the event that I become a resident of another jurisdiction, or obtain property, including real property or any other property interest, in another jurisdiction, it remains my intention that the laws of New Jersey shall continue to govern this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney shall become effective immediately. on . upon written certification by my physician that I am incapacitated or mentally incapable of managing my financial affairs, and shall not be affected by my disability or lack of mental competence, except as may be provided otherwise by an applicable state statute. This is a Durable Power of Attorney. immediately, and shall not be affected by my disability or lack of mental competence, except as may be provided otherwise by an applicable state statute. This is a Durable Power of Attorney. on , and shall not be affected by my disability or lack of mental competence, except as may be provided otherwise by an applicable state statute. This is a Durable Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney shall continue effective until or until I lack sufficient mental competence to understand and handle my financial and personal affairs or until I lack sufficient mental competence to understand and handle my financial and personal affairs. This Power of Attorney may be revoked by me at any time by providing written notice to my Agent.
Dated ____________________, ______, at , .
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STATE OF ,
COUNTY OF , ss:
On this _____ day of ____________________, ______, before me, ________________________________, personally appeared , known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged that he/she executed the same as for the purposes therein contained.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.
_________________________________
Notary Public
My commission expires _____________
Notice to Person Executing Power of Attorney:
A Power of Attorney is an important legal document. By signing the Power of Attorney, you are authorizing another person to act for you, the principal. Before you sign this Power of Attorney, you should know these important facts:
Your Agent (attorney-in-fact) has no duty to act unless you and your Agent agree otherwise in writing.
This document gives your Agent the powers to manage, dispose of, sell and convey your real and personal property, and to use your property as security if your Agent borrows money on your behalf, unless you provide otherwise in this Power of Attorney.
Your Agent will have the right to receive reasonable payment for services provided under this Power of Attorney unless you provide otherwise in this Power of Attorney.
The powers you give your Agent will continue to exist for your entire lifetime, unless you state that the Power of Attorney will last for a shorter period of time or unless you otherwise terminate the Power of Attorney. The powers you give your Agent in this Power of Attorney will continue to exist even if you can no longer make your own decisions respecting the management of your property, unless you provide otherwise in this Power of Attorney.
You can change or correct the terms of this Power of Attorney only by executing a new Power of Attorney, or by executing an amendment through the same formalities as an original. You have the right to revoke or terminate this Power of Attorney at any time, so long as you are competent.
The execution of a subsequent power of attorney does not automatically revoke a prior power of attorney. Rather, revocation occurs only when the principal signs a written revocation or physically destroys all originals of the power of attorney. N.J.S.A. 46:2B-8.10.
This Power of Attorney must be dated and must be acknowledged before a notary public. A Power of Attorney that may affect real property should be acknowledged before a notary public so that it may easily be recorded.
You should read this Power of Attorney carefully. When effective, this Power of Attorney will give your Agent the right to deal with property that you now have or might acquire in the future. The Power of Attorney is important to you. If you do not understand the Power of Attorney, or any provision of it, then you should obtain the assistance of an attorney or other qualified person.
| ______________________________________ | _____________________________ |
| Date |
Notice to Person Accepting the Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact:
By acting or agreeing to act as the Agent (attorney-in-fact) under this Power of Attorney, you assume the fiduciary and other legal responsibilities of an Agent. These responsibilities include:
| 1. | The legal duty to: act solely in the interest of the principal; act loyally, with care, competence, and diligence; and avoid conflicts of interest. |
| 2. | The legal duty to keep a record of all transactions made on behalf of the principal, including the responsibility to produce receipts, ledgers and other records of all deposits, disbursements or other transactions involving the principal's assets or indebtedness. |
| 3. | To cooperate with the principal's Agent for health care decisions, should the principal appoint such an Agent, in making decisions in accordance with the principal's desires or in the best interest of the principal if the principal's wishes are not known. |
| 4. | The legal duty to preserve the principal's estate plan, if one exists, and the principal's desires for such plan to be preserved. |
| 5. | The legal duty to keep the principal's property separate and distinct from any other property owned or controlled by you. |
| 6. | The legal duty to terminate actions as Agent (Attorney-in-Fact) under this Power of Attorney upon the occurrence of any of the following: |
| a. | Principal's death; |
| b. | Revocation of the Power of Attorney of principal; |
| c. | The arrival of any date stated in the Power of Attorney, which states the termination of the Power of Attorney, if any; or |
| d. | No additional action is required under the Power of Attorney. |
| 7. | If you are the spouse of the principal, the Power of Attorney terminates upon legal separation or dissolution of the marriage. |
| 8. | You may be held responsible and liable for any intentional actions which violate or abuse your authority under this Power of Attorney as provided by the state and federal laws governing this Power of Attorney. |
| 9. | You have the right to seek legal advice if you do not understand your duties as Agent or any provisions in the Power of Attorney. |
You may not transfer the principal's property to yourself without full and adequate consideration or accept a gift of the principal's property unless this Power of Attorney specifically authorizes you to transfer property to yourself or accept a gift of the principal's property. If you transfer the principal's property to yourself without specific authorization in the Power of Attorney, you may be prosecuted for fraud and/or embezzlement. If the principal is 65 years of age or older at the time that the property is transferred to you without authority, you may also be prosecuted for elder abuse. In addition to criminal prosecution, you may be sued in civil court.
I have read the foregoing notice and I understand the legal and fiduciary duties that I assume by acting or agreeing to act as the Agent (attorney-in-fact) under the terms of this Power of Attorney.
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General Special Durable
New Jersey Power of Attorney FAQs
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How do I get power of attorney in New Jersey?
It's fast and easy to give or receive the support you may need with a free New Jersey Power of Attorney template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make the PoA - Provide a few details and we will do the rest
- Send or share - Review it with your agent(s) or ask a legal question
- Sign it - Mandatory or not, witnesses/notarization are a best practice
This method, in many cases, will end up being notably less expensive than hiring and working with a traditional provider. If needed, you may start this PoA on behalf of your spouse or another family member, and then have that person sign it after you've drafted it. Keep in mind that for a PoA form to be accepted as legally valid, the principal must be mentally competent when they sign. If the principal has already been declared incompetent, a conservatorship generally will be necessary. In this scenario, it's a good idea to talk to an attorney .
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Do I need to have a New Jersey PoA?
Anyone who is over 18 should have a Power of Attorney. Though it can be difficult to think about, a day might come when you aren't able to make your own legal decisions. There may even be times when you're simply out of pocket. Common circumstances in which a PoA would be useful include:
- You would like to authorize a trusted person to take legal actions or make decisions on your behalf in the event that you are absent or incapacitated
- You currently live in a residential care facility and need help managing financial affairs
- You are aging or have limited mobility or declining health
- You live abroad or out of state
Regardless of whether your New Jersey Power of Attorney has been created as a result of an emergency or as part of a forward-looking plan, notarization and witnesses can often help to protect your agent if their privileges and authority are doubted.
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Which type of Power of Attorney do I need in New-Jersey?
PoA documents can be classified in several different ways. They are mainly dependent on what powers will be given, when they will come into effect, and how long they will remain valid. Often, you'll find them separated into four groups:
- Durable Power of Attorney - Would remain in effect even if you become incapacitated
- Springing Power of Attorney - Would come into effect based on certain criteria
- General Power of Attorney - Would grant broad authority over your affairs
- Special Power of Attorney - Would grant limited powers over selected matters
When creating your free New Jersey Power of Attorney, you may opt to have the agent's authority begin immediately, on a selected day, or only when you're not capable. The Power of Attorney may expire either on a particular date or when you pass away.
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Do I need a lawyer for my New Jersey PoA?
New Jersey Power of Attorney forms are generally easy to make, but you or your agent(s) might still need advice. Hiring a legal professional to check your New Jersey Power of Attorney may be expensive. An easier and more cost-effective way to get a second pair of eyes on your document would be through the Rocket Lawyer On Call® network. When you become a Premium member, you can get your document looked at by an experienced attorney. As always, Rocket Lawyer is here to help.
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What does it normally cost to get a Power of Attorney form in New Jersey?
The fees associated with hiring and working with a lawyer to draft a Power of Attorney might range between $200 and $500. Rocket Lawyer isn't a run-of-the-mill Power of Attorney template website. With our service, anyone under a Premium membership can take advantage of up to a 40% discount when hiring an Rocket Lawyer network attorney.
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Are there any additional steps that I should take after creating a New Jersey Power of Attorney?
Alongside each Power of Attorney form, there's a checklist of next steps you can take after your document is completed. Feel free to try any of the following actions with your PoA: making edits, downloading it in PDF format or as a Word document, printing it, or signing it. Finally, you should send a final copy of your fully signed document to your agent(s) and financial institutions.
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Does a Power of Attorney need to be notarized, witnessed, or recorded in New Jersey?
The specific guidelines and restrictions vary by state; however, in New Jersey, your document will typically need to be notarized. One witness is required if you intend to give an agent authority related to real estate and two witnesses are required when you grant authority over a child. If your agent will handle real estate transactions, the Power of Attorney will need to be acknowledged by a notary and recorded with the county. Finally, as a basic principle, witnesses will need to not be under 18 years old, and none of them should simultaneously be your Power of Attorney agent.
See New Jersey Power of Attorney law: Chapter 46:2B
