Revoke a Power of Attorney in Indiana: Free Letter

Words used in Indiana

In Indiana you name an attorney in fact for money and property in a power of attorney. Since 2023, health care decisions are covered by an advance directive under IC 16-36-7, which names a health care representative and can state your wishes; a separate living will declaration is still available. If an adult cannot decide and has no documents, family members can act as a proxy for health care, and a court can appoint a guardian if less restrictive options are not enough.

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; it continues after incapacity unless it says otherwise
The person you choose: Attorney in fact
Health care: Advance directive naming a health care representative
Treatment wishes: Living will declaration
Court-appointed decision-maker: Guardian of an incapacitated person (full or limited guardianship); protective order

What Indiana law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to sign: Indiana requires a revocation to be in writing.
How to revoke: Unless the power of attorney says otherwise, it can be revoked only by a written revocation that identifies the power of attorney and is signed by you.
Telling others: The revocation is not effective as to the attorney in fact or another person until they have actual knowledge of it, so deliver it to the attorney in fact and to banks and others who have the power of attorney.
If it was recorded: If the power of attorney was recorded with the county recorder, the revocation must be recorded and must cite the book and page or instrument number of the recorded power of attorney.

Law: IC 30-5-10-1

Source: Official text

Free letter: revoke a power of attorney

Date of the letter (required)

Your full name (required)

Your phone or email (optional)

Your mailing address (required)

Date of the power of attorney (required)

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

Agent's full name (required)

How will you deliver it?

Agent's mailing address (required)

Revocation takes effect on (required)

Banks and businesses to send a copy to (optional, one per line)

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

Anything else to add (optional, in English)

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

You die (with limited exceptions for tax and certain health care-related powers; good faith actors without knowledge are protected)
You revoke it
A termination date and time stated in it arrives
You become incapacitated, only if the document says it ends then
For one attorney in fact: they die, resign, are adjudged incapacitated, cannot be located, or (if your spouse) are no longer your spouse

Banks and other businesses

A person who refuses to accept the attorney in fact's authority within 3 business days after receiving the power of attorney can be liable as if they had refused you, including three times actual damages, attorney's fees and prejudgment interest. Exceptions include actual notice of revocation or death, expiration, or a reasonable belief that the power is invalid or does not cover the transaction, explained in a written statement within 10 business days of the refusal.

Law: IC 30-5-9-9

Law: IC 30-5-10-1 to 30-5-10-4; IC 30-5-4-4(a)

Related rules in Indiana

Banks, other states and real estate

Banks and other businesses

A person who refuses to accept the attorney in fact's authority within 3 business days after receiving the power of attorney can be liable as if they had refused you, including three times actual damages, attorney's fees and prejudgment interest. Exceptions include actual notice of revocation or death, expiration, or a reasonable belief that the power is invalid or does not cover the transaction, explained in a written statement within 10 business days of the refusal.

Law: IC 30-5-9-9

Signed in another state

A power of attorney is valid in Indiana if it was valid when signed under Indiana law, common law, the law of another state or foreign country, or the federal military power of attorney rules. Its meaning is governed by the law it names, or where it was signed.

Law: IC 30-5-3-2; IC 30-5-3-6

Real estate

The attorney in fact does not have to record the power of attorney to act, but must record it before presenting for recording any document they signed (such as a deed); the county recorder cannot accept such a document if the power of attorney is unrecorded, and the document must cite the recorded power of attorney. To be recorded, the power of attorney must meet recording requirements (notary and preparation statements), or, if witness-signed, have a witness's proof attached.

Law: IC 30-5-3-3

Health care directive in Indiana

Revoking your agent

You can revoke an advance directive, or the naming of a health care representative, by signing a new advance directive or a written revocation with the same signing formalities, or by saying so in the direct physical presence of a health care provider.

Law: IC 16-36-7-32(a)

Revoking your instructions

Unless you have been determined incapacitated, you can always orally revoke a health care decision or treatment preference in the directive. A living will declaration can be revoked by a signed, dated writing, by destroying it, or by an oral statement; it takes effect when communicated to the attending physician (IC 16-36-7-32(a); 16-36-4-12).

Telling others

Until a health care representative or provider has actual knowledge of a valid revocation, the representative's decisions remain binding and providers may rely on them.

Law: IC 16-36-7-32(b)

Conflicting documents

If you sign more than one advance directive, the last one revokes the earlier ones unless it says they stay in effect. If you are incapacitated and have conflicting documents (an IC 16-36-7 directive, an older health care representative appointment or power of attorney with health care powers signed before January 1, 2023, or another state's directive), the document you signed last controls.

Law: IC 16-36-7-34(4); IC 16-36-7-44

Law: IC 16-36-7-32; IC 16-36-4-12

Good to know in Indiana

Since January 1, 2023, health care powers can no longer be given in an Indiana power of attorney; they belong in an advance directive under IC 16-36-7.
Law: IC 30-5-5-16(e)
An Indiana power of attorney can be signed before a notary or two witnesses, and electronic powers of attorney are allowed.
Law: IC 30-5-4-1, 30-5-11
A business that refuses a valid power of attorney without a listed reason can owe three times actual damages plus attorney's fees.
Law: IC 30-5-9-9
Indiana's default proxy list runs from spouse to adult child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, other relative, friend and religious superior.
Law: IC 16-36-7-42

Changes in 2024–2026

P.L.99-2024 amended the recording rule for powers of attorney, allowing a witness-signed power of attorney to be recorded with an attached witness proof. P.L.50-2025 amended IC 30-5-10-4 (death of the principal), and P.L.106-2025 amended the probate costs fee section. In 2026, P.L.105-2026 amended IC 30-5-5-12 (the family maintenance power now also covers the principal's own personal maintenance) and IC 30-5-5-16; other 2026 acts made only technical cross-reference changes in IC 16-36 and IC 29-3.

Law: IC 30-5-3-3; IC 33-37-4-7

Free help in Indiana

Report abuse or exploitation

Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Adult Protective Services · 800-992-6978

How to revoke a power of attorney in Indiana

Short answer

Words used in Indiana

What Indiana law says about revoking a power of attorney

Free letter: revoke a power of attorney

When it ends and how to revoke it

Good to know in Indiana

Changes in 2024–2026

Free help in Indiana

Report abuse or exploitation

More for Indiana