how to grant power of attorney real estate

by Prof. Alessia Emard MD 5 min read

How To Execute A Real Estate Power Of Attorney
  1. Document The Property. ...
  2. Assign Your Agent. ...
  3. Select Your Agent's Authorized Powers. ...
  4. Follow State Requirements. ...
  5. Notarize And Sign The Document. ...
  6. Retain Copies For Safekeeping. ...
  7. Consult Local Professionals Along The Way.
Apr 23, 2021

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney gives one or more persons the power to act on your behalf as your agent. The power may be limited to a particular activity, such as closing the sale of your home, or be general in its application. The power may give temporary or permanent authority to act on your behalf. The power may take effect immediately, or only upon ...

What is a springing power of attorney?

The power may take effect immediately, or only upon the occurrence of a future event, usually a determination that you are unable to act for yourself due to mental or physical disability. The latter is called a "springing" power of attorney.

Can a power of attorney be revoked?

A power of attorney may be revoked, but most states require written notice of revocation to the person named to act for you. The person named in a power of attorney to act on your behalf is commonly referred to as your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact.". With a valid power of attorney, your agent can take any action permitted in the document.

What are the qualifications to be an attorney in fact?

There are no special qualifications necessary for someone to act as an attorney-in-fact except that the person must not be a minor or otherwise incapacitated. The best choice is someone you trust. Integrity, not financial acumen, is often the most important trait of a potential agent.

Can an attorney in fact make gifts?

Gifts are an important tool for many estate plans, and your attorney-in-fact can make gifts on your behalf, subject to guidelines that you set forth in your power of attorney. For example, you may wish to permit your attorney-in-fact to make "annual exclusion" gifts (up to $14,000 in value per recipient per year in 2013) on your behalf ...

Do you have to check with a power of attorney if you own a vacation home?

If you own real estate, such as a vacation home, or valuable personal property, such as collectibles, in a second state, you should check with an attorney to make sure that your power of attorney properly covers such property.

How long does a power of attorney last?

Today, most states permit a "durable" power of attorney that remains valid once signed until you die or revoke the document.

Can you draft a POA on your own?

When it comes to drafting and executing a POA, you are not on your own, as there are a number of different types of professionals that can help guide your decisions. Consider consulting with mortgage lenders, real estate agents or legal experts to make sure you are making the best decision for your specific needs.

What is a medical power of attorney?

A medical power of attorney designates an individual to make medical decisions for you when you no longer have the ability to do so. Medical power of attorney in real estate refers to having an agent make real estate decisions for you if you no longer have the ability to.

Can a POA be broad?

As the principle, the POA you are giving can be as broad or narrow as you desire. Define the boundaries of your agents authorized powers clearly so all parties involved are on the same page. For example, a general power of attorney allows your agent to handle all of your financial transactions, but a special power of attorney may only allow your agent to handle the sale of a specific home.

Is there a lot of paperwork to sell a house?

As previously mentioned, there is a lot of paperwork for selling a house. One important thing to keep in mind is that this paperwork can vary from state to state. Researching and abiding by specific state requirements is critical as you fill out all the necessary forms for a POA .

Do principals keep copies of POA?

Both the principal and the agent should keep their own copies of the agreement. This ensures that if the POA needs to be reviewed or produced later both interested parties will have a copy to reference.

What is nondurable POA?

Providing limited authority, a nondurable POA is typically only directed to last for a specific period of time for a particular transaction. Like durable power of attorney, this is a good option for a one-time sale or purchase of a specific home, but adds the element of a specific time period/limit.

What is a power of attorney?

A real estate power of attorney can be used to give powers for single or multiple real estate transactions. It is also very useful when needing someone to manage your property. This could include signing lease agreements, buying or selling property, evicting tenants, etc. As an example, a property owner could hire a property management company ...

How many witnesses do you need to sign a power of attorney?

It varies State-by-State the signing requirements. To guarantee the form is acceptable in every State, the principal should have signed with two (2) witnesses and a notary public.

Can you transfer the right to buy or sell property to another person?

The majority of property transactions are performed with the consent and knowledge of the legal buyers and sellers of the property. However, there are circumstances in which the legal right to make the transaction must be shifted to someone else. Transferring the legal right to buy or sell property for another can be performed by granting power ...

How does a power of attorney work?

Transferring the legal right to buy or sell property for another can be performed by granting power of attorney (POA) to specific individuals or corporations. If someone holds power of attorney, he or she has the legal authority to act in specific ways for another person, such as buying or selling real estate.

What is a power of attorney?

The power of attorney is an important and complex legal arrangement with the potential to provide its executor with significant legal power. While all states accept the power of attorney, rules and requirements often differ between states. Power of attorney can be limited to a specific activity or be general in application.

Can a power of attorney be permanent?

While all states accept the power of attorney, rules and requirements often differ between states. Power of attorney can be limited to a specific activity or be general in application. It can be temporary or permanent. It can be durable or non-durable. To invoke power of attorney, the agent must present the document conferring power ...

How to invoke a power of attorney?

To invoke power of attorney, the agent must present the document conferring power of attorney upon him, her, or them. Real estate agents and financial institutions may require specific language in the document before accepting the agent’s right to authorize the transaction.

What is the fiduciary responsibility of an agent?

The agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the principal . In all ways, the agent is required to act with loyalty to and the best interest of the principal. For example, the agent cannot sell the principal’s property to himself for significantly less than market value unless that is in the best interest of the principal.

Can an agent's authority be challenged in court?

The agent’s authority may be challenged in court by another interested party if it perceives the agent is failing to act in the best interest of the principle. If an agent, Jane Brown is acting with power of attorney for principal John Doe, she must sign legal documents as follows: John Doe, by Jane Brown under POA; or Jane Brown, ...

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document granting power to another person to act on your behalf in certain legal or financial matters. Because a power of attorney is a document that gives the recipient many rights, most people choose to grant power of attorney to close friends or relatives.

Can a power of attorney be revoked?

You have the right to have the power of attorney revoked if at any time you become uncomfortable with your chosen relative having these rights.

How to get a power of attorney?

How to get power of attorney if you need it 1 Understand the obligations of being an agent in a POA arrangement. 2 Evaluate that the principal has the capacity to sign a power of attorney agreement. 3 Discuss the issue with the financial institutions (mortgage holders) and physicians (whenever there may be questions about capacity). 4 Hire an attorney or contact a legal website like Legal Zoom, online on-demand legal services with a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all their filings. 5 Be supportive. Giving up control of a real estate transaction can be a hard adjustment for an elder family member. 6 Ask a lot of questions and make sure you understand the obligations for all parties under the document. 7 Make sure that the document outlines actions with as much detail as possible to avoid any gray areas that can be misinterpreted. 8 Get the final document notarized or witnessed — depending on your state’s requirements if they haven’t enacted the Uniform Power of Attorney act of 2006. 9 Record the power of attorney with the county clerk office where the home is located — depending on your state or county requirements. 10 Make authenticated copies of the document for safekeeping. 11 Always present yourself correctly as someone’s agent.

Can a power of attorney be used to sell real estate?

In certain states, like California, “General or durable power of attorney cannot be used to sell real estate ” says Glen Henderson a top-selling real estate agent in San Diego who also specializes in probate sales.

What is a POA in real estate?

“Power of attorney” (POA) is a flexible legal tool that grants permission for someone to act on another’s behalf on a temporary or permanent basis. In real estate, this can be an incredibly useful option for all sorts of situations, like if you had to sell your house but couldn’t be there due to a job relocation or deployment.

What is an agent in fact?

The agent or attorney-in-fact is the person who receives the power of attorney to act on someone else’s behalf. The agent will have a fiduciary responsibility to always act in the best interest of the principal for as long as the power of attorney is valid. A fiduciary, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), ...

What happens to a non-durable power of attorney?

Similarly, with a non-durable power of attorney, once the transaction is complete, or the time period ends, the power of attorney is revoked. A durable power of attorney is when an agent can take over all aspects of someone’s affairs, in case he or she were to become incapacitated. This type of power of attorney kicks in ...

What is a special power of attorney?

A special or limited power of attorney is a different kind of non-durable power of attorney used in states like California for real estate transactions when the seller can’t be present due to absence or illness. Because it’s limited in both time and scope, it’s a great tool when you want to give someone a very specific responsibility.

Why is a power of attorney important?

Because it’s limited in both time and scope, it’s a great tool when you want to give someone a very specific responsibility. A medical power of attorney gives an agent (often a family member) authority over someone’s medical care once a doctor determines they are unable to make decisions on their own.

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Agent

Step 1 – Select Real Estate Powers

  • A real estate power of attorney can be used to give powers for single or multiplereal estate transactions. It is also very useful when needing someone to manage your property. This could include signing lease agreements, buying or selling property, evicting tenants, etc. As an example, a property owner could hire a property management company to re...
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Step 2 – Setting The Terms

  • Typically, if your intention is for a single transaction, you would select a start and end date. If the agent is managing the premises, then the principal would maybe want the term to be indefinite. In addition, if the principal is seeking to have the agent keep their role if the principal should be incapacitated or not able to use cognitive functions, they can select the form to be “durable”.
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Step 3 – Signing The Poa

  • Once complete, your real estate power of attorney must be signed by both yourself and the agent. It depends on the signing requirements in the State.
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I. Date

  • (1) Calendar Date Of Agreement.Furnish the effective date when this document is set to be an active representation of the Principal’s wishes.
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II. Appointment

  • (2) Principal Name.The Principal is the Party with the legal right to control, buy, or sell the property this designation concerns. His or her legal name must be supplied in the appropriate area of the second article. (3) Principal Address. Continue identifying the Principal making this appointment by documenting his or her official mailing address. (4) Agent Name.The Agent that the Principal …
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III. 2nd Agent

  • Select Item 6 Or Select Item 7 (6) No Alternate Agent.In some cases, the Principal may wish to ensure that his or her intent with property is carried out. If the Agent is unable or unwilling to act on the Principal’s behalf an Alternate Agent may step in but only if this Party is named in this document. This paperwork will not require that an Alternate Agent is named and will enable the …
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IV. Real Estate

  • (9) Real Property.Produce the information needed to identify the real property that the Agent will be able to work with utilizing the Principal’s authority. To do so, the physical address (and ideally the legal description) of the property should be presented in the second article.
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v. Powers Appointed

  • Select Any Combination Of Item 10, Item 11, Item 12, And Item 13 (10) Sale Of Real Estate.The decisions or the actions that the Principal expects and intends for the Agent to be able to engage in with the same authority the Principal exerts should be clearly discussed. Therefore a review of the list provided should be made. If the Agent should be able to use the Principal’s authority to c…
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VI. Term

  • Select Item 14 Or Select Item 15 Or Select Item 16 (14) End Date.The time period when this agreement begins will (unless otherwise indicated) be considered its signature date. However, the time or manner that causes its termination should be established. If the Principal only wants the Agent to access and utilize his or her authority until a specific date, the first statement in Article …
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