Read the document to make sure it meets your needs. Make sure that your appointed donee(s), or attorney(s), have agreed and are ready and available to act as your donee(s) for the appointed time. Remember that if you have any questions you can easily Ask a lawyer.
Power of attorney checklist
Make it Legal™ Checklist
Here are a few important steps to take to finish your document
The Power of Attorney is a special type of contract called a 'deed'. This means it must be signed in a special way.
-
Print out the Power of Attorney. You cannot sign online.
-
You must sign the Power of Attorney in the presence of one or two witnesses. If there are spaces in your document for two witnesses to sign, you must sign in the presence of two witnesses.
-
Each witness must be independent, have mental capacity and should:
-
not be a family member, and
-
not be under the age of 18.
-
-
The witness or witnesses must sign and add their name, address and occupation directly underneath your signature.
-
Complete the Power of Attorney by writing the date in the space provided at the top of the document.
You must keep the original Power of Attorney in a safe place. You should make a copy of the Power of Attorney:
-
for yourself
-
for each donee
If you want to keep the original safe and use a copy, it is a good idea to certify any copies. This means that a copy is confirmed by a qualified person - usually a solicitor - as a true copy of the original document. While Rocket Lawyer does not provide certification services, they can be provided by most solicitors for a fee.
