How to revoke a power of attorney in Michigan

What Michigan 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 the power of attorney, or one agent's authority, while you have capacity. The act does not prescribe a method; a signed written revocation sent to the agent and to anyone who has the power of attorney is the clearest record.

Words used in Michigan

In Michigan you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney, and a patient advocate for medical and mental health decisions in a separate patient advocate designation. Michigan has no statute for living wills; written wishes can be put in the patient advocate designation. If an adult cannot decide and has no documents, the probate court can appoint a guardian (for personal decisions) or a conservator (for money).

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; durable power of attorney; statutory form power of attorney
The person you choose
Agent (the act also covers an 'attorney-in-fact')
Health care
Patient advocate designation (often called a health care power of attorney)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian of a legally incapacitated individual (full or limited); conservator for money and property

What Michigan law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to revoke

You can revoke the power of attorney, or one agent's authority, while you have capacity. The act does not prescribe a method; a signed written revocation sent to the agent and to anyone who has the power of attorney is the clearest record. Signing a new power of attorney does not revoke an older one unless the new one says so.

Telling others

Tell the agent and give copies to banks and others who have the power of attorney. An agent or other person who acts in good faith without actual knowledge of the revocation is protected, and those acts bind you.

Law: MCL 556.210(1)(c), (2)(a), (4), (6)

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
  • You die
  • You become incapacitated, if the power of attorney is not durable
  • You revoke it
  • An event named in the document happens
  • Its limited purpose is accomplished
  • The agent dies, becomes incapacitated, resigns or is revoked, and no successor agent is named
  • An action is filed to divorce, annul or legally separate you from your agent-spouse
Banks and other businesses

A person asked to accept a notarized (acknowledged) power of attorney must accept it, or ask for the agent's acknowledgment, a certification, a translation or a lawyer's opinion, within 7 business days, and then accept within 5 business days after getting what they asked for. They cannot demand their own form. They may refuse only for listed reasons, for example a good faith belief the power is invalid, a report to adult protective services, or a freeze under the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act. A wrongful refusal can lead to a court order and payment of attorney fees and costs.

Law: MCL 556.219, 556.220

Law: MCL 556.210(1)-(2)

Good to know in Michigan

  • Michigan's Uniform Power of Attorney Act took effect July 1, 2024 and replaced the old durable power of attorney sections of the Estates and Protected Individuals Code.

    Law: MCL 556.504, 556.505

  • Whether a Michigan power of attorney is durable depends on how it was signed: notarized or two witnesses makes it durable unless it says otherwise; neither makes it non-durable.

    Law: MCL 556.204

  • A patient advocate must sign a written acceptance before acting, and the designation must be in your medical record before it is used.

    Law: MCL 700.5506(3), 700.5507(4)

  • Michigan Legal Help states that Michigan has no law that makes living wills binding; your wishes can still guide your patient advocate.

Changes in 2024–2026

2023 PA 187 took effect July 1, 2024 and repealed MCL 700.5501-700.5505. Pending, not law as of October 2026: 2025 HB 4418 (patient surrogate for health care decisions; passed the House 9/18/2025, reported with a substitute by the Senate committee 1/29/2026) and 2025 HB 4677 (supported decision-making agreements; reported by House committee 8/13/2025).

Law: Uniform Power of Attorney Act, MCL 556.201-556.505

Free help in Michigan

Report abuse or exploitation

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Adult Protective Services · 855-444-3911

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