Power of attorney in Washington: form, signing and powers

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

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

Washington Uniform Power of Attorney Act

How to sign: Notarized or signed by two adult witnesses
Durable unless it says otherwise?: No: it continues after incapacity only if it says so.
Uniform Power of Attorney Act: Yes

Words used in Washington

In Washington you name an agent for money, health care or both in a durable power of attorney. Your wishes about life-sustaining treatment go in a separate health care directive. If an adult cannot manage and less restrictive options will not work, the superior court can appoint a guardian, a conservator, or order a protective arrangement.

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

Money and property: Durable power of attorney (power of attorney for finances)
The person you choose: Agent (the law also covers an 'attorney-in-fact')
Health care: Durable power of attorney for health care
Treatment wishes: Health care directive (Natural Death Act directive, often called a living will)
Court-appointed decision-maker: Guardian (personal and health decisions) and conservator (property and money); full or limited

Law and official form

Law: Washington Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Uniform Power of Attorney Act: Yes (effective January 1, 2017)

Law: RCW 11.125.010, 11.125.903; Laws of 2016, ch. 209

Signing rules

How to sign

Sign and date the power of attorney. Then either acknowledge your signature before a notary public or have two qualified witnesses sign it in your presence. A notarized signature is presumed genuine, and businesses' duty to accept a power of attorney applies to acknowledged (notarized) ones.

Who signs

Signed and dated by you. If you are physically unable to sign, you can sign by a mark or follow RCW 64.08.100.

Law: RCW 11.12.030

Notary

A notary or witnesses (your choice)

Witnesses

2 (instead of a notary)

Who cannot witness

Witnesses must be competent and sign in your presence at your request. They cannot be related to you or to your agent by blood, marriage or state registered domestic partnership. They cannot be your home care provider or a care provider at an adult family home or long-term care facility where you live.

Law: RCW 11.125.050, 11.125.190, 11.125.200

Durable and springing

Is it durable?

Washington is different from most Uniform Power of Attorney Act states: a power of attorney ends if you become incapacitated unless it says it continues, for example 'This power of attorney shall not be affected by disability of the principal,' or says it becomes effective upon your disability.

Law: RCW 11.125.040

Durable unless it says otherwise?

No: it continues after incapacity only if it says so.

Starting later (springing)

A power of attorney is effective when signed unless it says it starts at a future date or event. You can name a person to decide in writing that the event has happened. If it starts on incapacity and nobody you named decides, a physician or licensed psychologist who has examined you and is not related to you or the agent can determine it in writing.

Law: RCW 11.125.090

What an agent can and cannot do

Needs express permission

Create, amend, revoke or terminate a living (inter vivos) trust
Make a gift
Create or change rights of survivorship
Create or change a beneficiary designation
Delegate authority under the power of attorney
Waive your right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan
Exercise fiduciary powers you can delegate
Exercise a power of appointment in favor of anyone other than you
Create, amend or revoke a community property agreement
Cause a trustee to make distributions of trust property as you could
Make other provisions for nonprobate transfer at death
Make health care decisions for you or give informed consent for you

No power of attorney can

No rights under Washington's Death with Dignity Act can be exercised through a power of attorney. Unless the document says otherwise, an agent who is not your ancestor, spouse, state registered domestic partner or descendant cannot use even an express grant to give themselves (or someone they must support) an interest in your property.

Law: RCW 11.125.420; RCW 11.125.240(4)

Law: RCW 11.125.240(1)

Agent duties, pay and court review

Agent duties

Act according to your reasonable expectations if known, and otherwise in your best interest
Act in good faith and only within the authority the document gives
Act loyally for your benefit and avoid conflicts of interest
Act with care, competence and diligence
Keep a record of all receipts, payments and transactions
Cooperate with your health care decision-maker
Try to preserve your estate plan if known and in your best interest
Give records within 30 days when asked in writing by you, a guardian, conservator, other fiduciary or a protective government agency

Agent pay

Unless the power of attorney says otherwise, the agent is entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses and to reasonable compensation.

Law: RCW 11.125.120

Asking a court to review an agent

You, the agent, your spouse or registered domestic partner, your guardian, a person asked to accept the power of attorney, and other interested persons (who meet conditions) can ask the superior court to decide whether it is in effect, compel an accounting, remove the agent, order a bond and more. If you have capacity, the court must dismiss the petition on your motion.

Law: RCW 11.125.160

Law: RCW 11.125.140

When it ends and how to revoke it

How to revoke a power of attorney in Washington

Official forms in Washington

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

Health care directive

Health Care Directive (suggested form in RCW 70.122.030) · Published by Washington State Legislature · Version: Statutory text as amended by Laws of 2025, ch. 56 (pregnancy clause removed)

Living will

Health Care Directive

Guardianship / conservatorship

Good to know in Washington

Unlike most states that adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Washington powers of attorney are NOT durable unless they say so.
Law: RCW 11.125.040
Witnesses to a power of attorney cannot be related to you or to your agent, and cannot be your home care provider or a care provider where you live.
Law: RCW 11.125.050
Filing for divorce, annulment or legal separation ends a spouse or registered domestic partner agent's authority unless the document says otherwise; it is restored if the case is dismissed by agreement or withdrawn.
Law: RCW 11.125.100(2)(c), (3)
Since 2025, the suggested health care directive form no longer says it has no effect during pregnancy.
Law: Laws of 2025, ch. 56

Changes in 2024–2026

Laws of 2025, ch. 56 removed the pregnancy clause from the suggested health care directive form in RCW 70.122.030. Laws of 2026, ch. 101 amended RCW 11.125.050 to add subsection (4): a limited power of attorney used only to transfer a vehicle to an insurer after payment of damages does not need notarization and may be signed electronically. Laws of 2024, ch. 267 amended the adult guardianship petition contents; Laws of 2026, ch. 177 amended RCW 11.130.300 (access to reports).

Law: HB 1215; RCW 11.130.270

Free help in Washington

Report abuse or exploitation

Adult Protective Services (DSHS Aging and Long-Term Support Administration)

Questions about powers of attorney in Washington

What is a power of attorney called in Washington?

Durable power of attorney (power of attorney for finances). In Washington you name an agent for money, health care or both in a durable power of attorney. Your wishes about life-sustaining treatment go in a separate health care directive. If an adult cannot manage and less restrictive options will not work, the superior court can appoint a guardian, a conservator, or order a protective arrangement.

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