How to revoke a power of attorney in California

What California law says about revoking a power of attorney, and a free letter you can fill in and print.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

You can revoke a power of attorney in the way the document says, or by a writing. You can also end a particular agent's authority by telling the agent, orally or in writing, that their authority is revoked.

If it was recorded
If the power of attorney was recorded with a county recorder, a revocation of its real property powers takes effect only when the revocation is acknowledged (or proved), certified and recorded in the same recorder's office.

Words used in California

In California you name an attorney-in-fact (agent) for money and property in a power of attorney, and a health care agent in an advance health care directive. If an adult cannot manage and has no documents, a court can appoint a conservator, but only if less restrictive options will not work.

An agent (also called an attorney-in-fact) is the person you choose to act for you. You are the principal.

Money and property
Durable power of attorney; Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney
The person you choose
Attorney-in-fact (agent)
Health care
Advance health care directive, which can include a power of attorney for health care
Treatment wishes
Individual health care instructions
Court-appointed decision-maker
Conservatorship (conservator of the person, conservator of the estate, limited conservatorship); 'guardianship' is used for children

What California law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to revoke

You can revoke a power of attorney in the way the document says, or by a writing. You can also end a particular agent's authority by telling the agent, orally or in writing, that their authority is revoked. Writing it down gives you a record.

Telling others

An agent or business that does not know about the revocation and acts in good faith is protected from liability. The statutory form says a revocation does not affect a third party until that party actually knows about it.

If it was recorded

If the power of attorney was recorded with a county recorder, a revocation of its real property powers takes effect only when the revocation is acknowledged (or proved), certified and recorded in the same recorder's office.

Law: Civil Code 1216

Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4151, 4153, 4303, 4304, 4401; Cal. Civ. Code § 1216

Source: Official text

Free letter: revoke a power of attorney

The date on the document you signed. If you are not sure, use your best estimate.

These names go into your letter only. They are never saved or sent to us.

Other formats

Sign the letter and keep a copy. This tool does not check whether your document is valid, and it is not legal advice.

When it ends and how to revoke it

It ends when
  • The date or event the document sets
  • Its purpose is fulfilled
  • You revoke it
  • You die (except for limited acts the law allows after death)
  • The agent is removed, resigns, becomes incapacitated or dies
  • Your marriage to the agent is dissolved or annulled
  • You lose capacity, if the power of attorney is not durable
Banks and other businesses

A business must give your agent the same rights it would give you in person, unless it could refuse you in the same situation. If a business unreasonably refuses a properly signed statutory form power of attorney, a court can order it to accept the form and award attorney's fees; refusing only because it is not the business's own form is unreasonable. A copy certified by a California lawyer or notary has the same effect as the original.

Law: Prob. Code 4300; Prob. Code 4406; Prob. Code 4307

Law: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 4152, 4154, 4155

Good to know in California

  • A financial power of attorney is not durable in California unless it says it continues after incapacity.

    Law: Prob. Code 4124

  • Since January 1, 2023, if you lack capacity and have no agent, conservator or named surrogate, a health care provider can choose a surrogate from your family or close friends. You can also name a surrogate just by telling your doctor; that lasts for the current illness or stay, or 60 days, whichever is shorter.

    Law: Prob. Code 4712, AB 2338; Prob. Code 4711

  • Since January 1, 2024, the statutory directive form covers mental health care, and you can make a standalone psychiatric advance directive.

    Law: Prob. Code 4617, 4679, 4701, AB 1029

  • Registering a directive with the Secretary of State is voluntary; an unregistered directive is still valid.

    Law: Prob. Code 4803

Changes in 2024–2026

AB 1029, effective January 1, 2024: health care decisions and the statutory advance health care directive form now cover mental health care, and Probate Code 4679 recognizes standalone psychiatric advance directives. SB 696, effective January 1, 2024: Online Notarization Act; online notarization starts only after notary registration and the Secretary of State's system (due by January 1, 2030). SB 1106, effective January 1, 2025, amended conservatorship sections 2352, 2361 and 2700. No 2024-2026 amendments to the Power of Attorney Law, the advance directive execution sections (4670-4701) or the supported decisionmaking law.

Law: Stats. 2023, ch. 171; Stats. 2023, ch. 291; Gov. Code 8231 and following; Stats. 2024, ch. 455; Probate Code 4000-4545; Welf. & Inst. Code 21000-21008

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