How to revoke a power of attorney in Illinois

What Illinois 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

While you have the capacity to do so, you can amend or revoke a power of attorney at any time and in any manner communicated to the agent or to any other person related to its subject matter.

Words used in Illinois

In Illinois you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney for property, and a health care agent in a separate power of attorney for health care. A living will only covers death-delaying procedures if you have a terminal condition. If an adult cannot decide and has no documents, doctors turn to a 'surrogate' from a list in the law, and a circuit court can appoint a guardian of the person, of the estate, or both.

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

Money and property
Power of attorney for property
The person you choose
Agent (the Act defines agent as 'the attorney-in-fact or other person designated to act for the principal')
Health care
Power of attorney for health care (the state form is the 'Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Health Care'; you name a 'health care agent')
Treatment wishes
Living will (a 'declaration' under the Illinois Living Will Act)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian of the person and/or guardian of the estate of a 'person with a disability' (limited or plenary guardian)

What Illinois law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to revoke

While you have the capacity to do so, you can amend or revoke a power of attorney at any time and in any manner communicated to the agent or to any other person related to its subject matter. Signing a new power of attorney does not revoke an earlier one unless the new one says so; the statutory short form for property says it revokes all prior powers of attorney for property.

Telling others

The agent is not affected by a revocation or amendment until the agent has actual knowledge of it. A person who relies in good faith on a copy of the document is protected unless they have actual knowledge or reasonable notice that it was revoked, so tell the agent and every bank or business that has a copy.

Law: 755 ILCS 45/2-5, 2-7(a), 2-8(a), (c), (f)(9); 3-3 paragraph 1

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.

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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
  • Your death
  • The end date or event stated in the document
  • You revoke it
  • A court order under the Act (for example, a guardian is ordered to exercise or revoke the agency)
  • For a spouse who is the agent: a judgment of dissolution of marriage or legal separation entered after signing (the spouse is treated as having died for purposes of the agency)
Banks and other businesses

A person who relies in good faith on a copy of a power of attorney is protected. Anyone who arbitrarily or without reasonable cause fails to follow an agent's direction is civilly liable for resulting damages. It is unreasonable to refuse a properly executed Illinois statutory short form for property only because it is not on the bank's own form, because time has passed, because of a gap between notarization and the agent's acceptance, because it is a copy accompanied by a properly executed Agent's Certification, or because it names an entity as agent. The Act lists reasonable reasons to refuse (for example, the agent will not provide a certification, a report to adult protective services, knowledge of the principal's death or revocation, a missing signature or invalid notarization). A copy is as good as the original for reliance purposes.

Law: 755 ILCS 45/2-8

Law: 755 ILCS 45/2-5, 2-6(b), 2-10(b)

Good to know in Illinois

  • Illinois requires both a witness and a notary for a power of attorney for property, and strict limits on who may witness.

    Law: 755 ILCS 45/3-3.6

  • The health care power of attorney needs only one witness and no notary; you can choose a 30-day delay before a revocation takes effect.

    Law: 755 ILCS 45/4-5.1, 4-6(a-5)

  • Guardians appointed by the court must complete a state training program and file a certificate within one year, with listed exemptions.

    Law: 755 ILCS 5/11a-12(e), as amended by P.A. 104-237, eff. 1-1-26

  • A declaration for mental health treatment can be invoked only within 3 years of signing.

    Law: 755 ILCS 43/10

Changes in 2024–2026

P.A. 103-301 (eff. 1-1-24) recognizes electronic powers of attorney and advance directives, electronic notarization and witnessing by electronic presence. P.A. 103-994 (eff. 1-1-25) amended the reasons a third party may refuse a power of attorney. P.A. 104-237 (eff. 1-1-26) amended the guardian training requirement. P.A. 104-378 (eff. 1-1-26) amended when a living will operates. P.A. 104-820 (eff. 8-7-26) amended the Health Care Surrogate Act. Coming: P.A. 104-609 (eff. 1-1-27) removes two refusal reasons from 755 ILCS 45/2-8; P.A. 104-663 (eff. 1-1-27) broadens the Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act; P.A. 104-465 (eff. 7-1-27) renames the Office of State Guardian.

Law: 755 ILCS 6, Art. 11; 755 ILCS 45/2-8; 755 ILCS 5/11a-12; 755 ILCS 35/3.5, 9.5; 755 ILCS 40/25, 30

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