Power of attorney in Oregon: form, signing and powers

The form, the signing rules, durable or not, and what an agent can do in Oregon, from Oregon law.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

Powers of Attorney

How to sign
Signed by you; the law requires no notary or witnesses
Durable unless it says otherwise?
Yes: it continues if you lose capacity unless it says otherwise.
Uniform Power of Attorney Act
No

Words used in Oregon

In Oregon you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney, and a health care representative in the Oregon Advance Directive for Health Care (or the shorter appointment form). If an adult cannot manage and has no documents, a circuit court can appoint a guardian, a conservator, 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 (financial power of attorney)
The person you choose
Agent
Health care
Oregon Advance Directive for Health Care; Form for Appointing Health Care Representative
Treatment wishes
Instructions in sections 3 and 4 of the Oregon Advance Directive for Health Care (your values, beliefs and wishes)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian (personal and health decisions) and conservator (money and property); together called 'fiduciaries' in a 'protective proceeding'

Law and official form

Law
Powers of Attorney
Uniform Power of Attorney Act
No

Law: ORS 127.002-127.045

Signing rules

How to sign

Oregon's power of attorney statutes require a power of attorney in writing but do not set witness or notary requirements. A power of attorney that will be used to sell or transfer land must be acknowledged before a notary to be recorded.

Law: ORS 93.670

Who signs

A written power of attorney signed by you (the principal).

Notary
Not required
Witnesses
None required

Law: ORS 127.005

Durable and springing

Is it durable?

Unless the document says otherwise, a written power of attorney takes effect when signed, is not affected by the passage of time, and keeps working even if you become financially incapable.

Law: ORS 127.005(1)

Durable unless it says otherwise?
Yes: it continues if you lose capacity unless it says otherwise.
Starting later (springing)

A power of attorney can say it starts at a future time or on a future event, such as your becoming financially incapable. It can name who decides whether that has happened and how. If it names no one, or no named person is willing or able, any physician can make the determination in writing.

Law: ORS 127.005(2), (3)

Agent duties, pay and court review

Agent duties
  • Unless the power of attorney says otherwise, use your property for your benefit
  • Account to your conservator, if one is appointed
Asking a court to review an agent

If a conservator is appointed, the agent must account to the conservator, who has the same power you would have to revoke, suspend or end all or part of the power of attorney. A court may also revoke the power of attorney when it appoints a conservator.

Law: ORS 127.005(5), 127.015(2)

Law: ORS 127.005(5), 127.045

When it ends and how to revoke it

How to revoke a power of attorney in Oregon

Official forms in Oregon

Forms published by the state or its courts. You open them on the official site.

Health care directive

Guardianship / conservatorship

Good to know in Oregon

  • Oregon's power of attorney law is short: it sets no witness or notary rule and has no statutory form; a power of attorney is durable unless it says otherwise.

    Law: ORS 127.005

  • Filing for divorce, annulment or separation ends a spouse-agent's authority under a financial power of attorney unless the document, an agreement or a court says otherwise.

    Law: ORS 127.015

  • The Oregon advance directive must be in substantially the statutory form adopted by Senate Bill 199 (2021), and your health care representative must accept the appointment.

    Law: ORS 127.510, 127.529

  • In a long term care facility, one witness to an advance directive must be someone the facility designates.

    Law: ORS 127.515(5)

Changes in 2024–2026

No 2024-2026 changes to the power of attorney sections (ORS 127.002-127.045; last 2023 c.9 to definitions) or to the advance directive execution sections in the 2025 ORS edition. Recent changes: 2023 c.11 changed declaration for mental health treatment witness rules and form, with more changes by 2025 c.559; 2024 c.73 updated POLST definitions; 2025 c.224 amended guardian powers; 2025 c.144 added court visitor immunity. The advance directive form itself was replaced by SB 199 (2021 c.328).

Law: ORS 127.707; 127.736; 127.711, 127.736; 127.663; ORS 125.315; 125.167

Free help in Oregon

Report abuse or exploitation

Oregon Department of Human Services abuse hotline (older adults and vulnerable adults) · 1-855-503-7233

Questions about powers of attorney in Oregon

What is a power of attorney called in Oregon?

Power of attorney (financial power of attorney). In Oregon you name an agent for money and property in a power of attorney, and a health care representative in the Oregon Advance Directive for Health Care (or the shorter appointment form). If an adult cannot manage and has no documents, a circuit court can appoint a guardian, a conservator, or both.

Does a power of attorney have to be notarized in Oregon?

Oregon's power of attorney statutes require a power of attorney in writing but do not set witness or notary requirements. A power of attorney that will be used to sell or transfer land must be acknowledged before a notary to be recorded.

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