How to revoke a power of attorney in Louisiana

What Louisiana 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 terminate the mandate and your mandatary's authority at any time. (A mandate that also serves the mandatary's or a third person's interest can be made irrevocable if the parties agree.)

If it was recorded
If the mandate was recorded in the public records, a revocation or change is not effective against people entitled to rely on the public records until the revocation is filed for recordation.

Words used in Louisiana

Louisiana uses civil-law terms. A power of attorney is a mandate or procuration, and the person you choose is your mandatary. Health care authority must be given expressly in the mandate, and end-of-life wishes go in a living will declaration. If an adult cannot care for themselves or their property and less restrictive means will not work, a court can order interdiction and appoint a curator.

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

Money and property
Mandate (a contract); procuration (a one-sided act giving authority); commonly called a power of attorney
The person you choose
Mandatary (in a procuration, the 'representative'); the person giving authority is the 'principal'
Health care
Mandate expressly authorizing health care decisions (often called a health care power of attorney)
Treatment wishes
Declaration concerning life-sustaining procedures (living will) under the Louisiana Natural Death Act
Court-appointed decision-maker
Interdiction (full, limited, temporary or preliminary); the court-appointed decision-maker is a curator, overseen by an undercurator; the person is an interdict

What Louisiana law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to revoke

You can terminate the mandate and your mandatary's authority at any time. (A mandate that also serves the mandatary's or a third person's interest can be made irrevocable if the parties agree.)

Telling others

You must notify third persons with whom the mandatary was authorized to deal; if you do not, you are bound by obligations the mandatary takes on with them. A contract the mandatary makes without knowing the mandate ended, with a third person in good faith, is enforceable.

If it was recorded

If the mandate was recorded in the public records, a revocation or change is not effective against people entitled to rely on the public records until the revocation is filed for recordation.

Law: La. Civ. Code arts. 3025, 3027, 3028, 3031

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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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 principal or the mandatary dies
  • The mandatary is interdicted
  • A curator qualifies after the principal is interdicted
  • The principal terminates the mandate
  • The mandatary resigns or renounces (if the mandatary believes the principal lacks capacity, only after notifying another or successor mandatary, or a person with sufficient interest in the principal's welfare)
  • Other causes that end contracts under the general rules of obligations

Law: La. Civ. Code arts. 3024, 3025, 3029

Good to know in Louisiana

  • Louisiana does not use the Uniform Power of Attorney Act; powers of attorney are governed by the Civil Code articles on mandate, and the agent is called a mandatary.

    Law: La. Civ. Code arts. 2985-3032

  • A mandate continues if you become incapacitated unless it says otherwise, but it ends when a curator qualifies after you are interdicted.

    Law: La. Civ. Code arts. 3024, 3026

  • Health care decisions and limiting a person's visits or contact with close relatives are among the powers that must be given expressly.

    Law: La. Civ. Code art. 2997

  • Supported decisionmaking agreements must be made by authentic act - before a notary and two witnesses.

    Law: La. R.S. 13:4261.205

Changes in 2024–2026

Acts 2025, No. 488 amended Civil Code art. 3025 with a wording change ('third party' to 'third person'). Acts 2025, No. 342 amended La. R.S. 40:1151.1 (living will definitions). No other 2024-2026 changes were found in the mandate, interdiction or supported decisionmaking provisions read.

Free help in Louisiana

Report abuse or exploitation

Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs - Elderly Protective Services (age 60 and older) · 1-833-577-6532

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