Power of attorney in Rhode Island: form, signing and powers

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

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act and powers of attorney rules in chapter 34-22

Official form
Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney
How to sign
Signed by you; the law requires no notary or witnesses
Durable unless it says otherwise?
No: it continues after incapacity only if it says so.
Uniform Power of Attorney Act
No

Words used in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island you name an attorney-in-fact for money and property in a power of attorney, and an agent for health care in a separate durable power of attorney for health care. A declaration (living will) covers life-sustaining procedures if you are terminally ill. If an adult cannot manage, the city or town probate court can appoint a limited guardian or guardian, only as far as 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; durable power of attorney; Rhode Island statutory short form power of attorney
The person you choose
Attorney-in-fact (agent)
Health care
Durable power of attorney for health care
Treatment wishes
Declaration under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (living will)
Court-appointed decision-maker
Guardian or limited guardian (the adult is the 'ward'); probate courts are run by each city or town

Law and official form

Law
Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act and powers of attorney rules in chapter 34-22
Uniform Power of Attorney Act
No
Official form
Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney (R.I. Gen. Laws 18-16-2)Published by Rhode Island General Assembly

You do not have to use it.

Using the short form is voluntary; any other form of power of attorney may be used. To count as a statutory short form, it must be in writing, contain the exact wording of clause 'First', include the warning notice in bold, and be acknowledged by you like a deed (before a notary). The form includes a signature line after the sentence 'This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent incompetency of the donor.' If you name more than one agent, they must act jointly unless you write 'severally'.

Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-1, 34-22-6.1; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-1, 18-16-2

Signing rules

How to sign

Rhode Island law does not set general witness or notary rules for a power of attorney. A statutory short form power of attorney must be acknowledged by you in the way a real estate deed is acknowledged, which means before a notary public. A durable power of attorney must be in writing.

Who signs

Signed by you (the principal or 'donor').

Notary
Not required
Witnesses
None required

Law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 18-16-2(b), (e), 34-22-6.1

Durable and springing

Is it durable?

A power of attorney keeps working after you become incompetent only if it is in writing and says so, for example 'This power of attorney shall not be affected by the incompetency of the donor' or 'This power of attorney shall become effective upon the incompetency of the donor', or similar words.

Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 34-22-6.1

Durable unless it says otherwise?
No: it continues after incapacity only if it says so.
Starting later (springing)

A written power of attorney can say it 'shall become effective upon the incompetency of the donor'. The statute does not say how incompetency is shown.

Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 34-22-6.1

Agent duties, pay and court review

Asking a court to review an agent

If a guardian or conservator is appointed for you, your agent under a durable power of attorney accounts to the guardian or conservator instead of you, and the guardian or conservator may revoke, suspend or end all or part of the power of attorney.

Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 34-22-6.1(a)

When it ends and how to revoke it

How to revoke a power of attorney in Rhode Island

Official forms in Rhode Island

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

Financial power of attorney

Health care directive

Living will

Guardianship / conservatorship

Good to know in Rhode Island

  • In Rhode Island a financial power of attorney is NOT durable unless it says it continues after incompetency.

    Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 34-22-6.1

  • If you name more than one agent on the statutory short form, they must act together unless you write 'severally'.

    Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 18-16-2(f)

  • The health care power of attorney form needs two witnesses or one notary, and one of them must swear they are not your relative or heir.

    Law: R.I. Gen. Laws 23-4.10-2

  • Rhode Island has a Supported Decision-Making Act.

    Law: R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 42-66.13, 2019

Free help in Rhode Island

Report abuse or exploitation

Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging (Adult Protective Services for people 60 and older)

Questions about powers of attorney in Rhode Island

What is a power of attorney called in Rhode Island?

Power of attorney; durable power of attorney; Rhode Island statutory short form power of attorney. In Rhode Island you name an attorney-in-fact for money and property in a power of attorney, and an agent for health care in a separate durable power of attorney for health care. A declaration (living will) covers life-sustaining procedures if you are terminally ill. If an adult cannot manage, the city or town probate court can appoint a limited guardian or guardian, only as far as needed.

Does a power of attorney have to be notarized in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island law does not set general witness or notary rules for a power of attorney. A statutory short form power of attorney must be acknowledged by you in the way a real estate deed is acknowledged, which means before a notary public.

Is there an official power of attorney form in Rhode Island?

Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it.

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