How to revoke a power of attorney in New York

What New York 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 the way it says, or by delivering a revocation to the agent in person, or by sending a signed and dated revocation by mail, courier, electronic transmission or fax to the agent's last known address.

If it was recorded
If the power of attorney was recorded under Real Property Law § 294, you must also record the revocation in the same office.

Words used in New York

In New York you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney, and a health care agent in a separate health care proxy. A power of attorney cannot be used for health care decisions. If an adult cannot manage and has no plan, a court can appoint an Article 81 guardian with only the powers needed.

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 (New York Statutory Short Form or non-statutory power of attorney)
The person you choose
Agent
Health care
Health care proxy (appointing a health care agent)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian of the person and/or property under Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 (or a guardian under Surrogate's Court Procedure Act Article 17-A for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities)

What New York law says about revoking a power of attorney

How to sign
New York requires a revocation to be in writing.
How to revoke

You can revoke a power of attorney the way it says, or by delivering a revocation to the agent in person, or by sending a signed and dated revocation by mail, courier, electronic transmission or fax to the agent's last known address. Signing a new power of attorney does not revoke an old one by itself; the new one must say so in the Modifications section.

Telling others

The revocation is not effective against the agent until the agent receives it. It is not effective against a bank or other third party until it has actual notice; a financial institution has notice after a reasonable chance to act on a written notice received at the office where the account is. The statutory form suggests giving written notice to prior agents and to third parties such as your banks.

If it was recorded

If the power of attorney was recorded under Real Property Law § 294, you must also record the revocation in the same office.

Law: Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1511(4)

Law: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1511(3)-(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.

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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
  • You die
  • You become incapacitated, if the power of attorney is not durable
  • You revoke it
  • You revoke the agent's authority, or the agent dies, becomes incapacitated or resigns, and no co-agent or successor can serve
  • Its purpose is accomplished
  • A court revokes it
  • Your marriage to the agent ends by divorce or annulment, unless the document says otherwise (remarriage to the agent revives it)
Banks and other businesses

A third party in New York cannot refuse a properly signed statutory short form power of attorney without reasonable cause. Within 10 business days after an original or attorney-certified copy is presented, it must accept it, reject it in writing with reasons, or ask the agent for an acknowledged affidavit that it is in full force. Refusing only because it is not the bank's own form, or because of the time since signing, is unreasonable. The agent can bring a special proceeding to compel acceptance.

Law: Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1504, 5-1510

Law: N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1511(1), (2)

Good to know in New York

  • A New York power of attorney needs a notary AND two witnesses (the notary can be one of them), and your agent must also sign before a notary before acting.

    Law: Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1501B

  • Signing a new power of attorney does not cancel an old one unless the new one says so in the Modifications section.

    Law: Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1511(6), § 5-1513(e)

  • Banks must accept or reject a properly signed statutory short form within 10 business days and give written reasons for rejecting it.

    Law: Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1504

  • A health care proxy needs two adult witnesses but no notary; witnesses can take part by video.

    Law: Pub. Health Law § 2981

Changes in 2024–2026

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities adopted supported decision-making regulations (14 NYCRR Part 634) in 2025 to implement Mental Hygiene Law Article 82.

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