Washington, D.C., Financial Power of Attorney Form

FindLaw has partnered with experienced attorneys to create financial power of attorney forms you can complete quickly and easily from the comfort of home. Just follow along with our easy step-by-step process to create a financial power of attorney that is customized to Washington, D.C.’s laws and your unique situation.

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…and any other concerns you have!

Do you have children from a previous relationship or a child with special needs?

There are special considerations to make if you have a blended family or a child with special needs. In these cases, it may be best to talk to an attorney.

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Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:

What’s included:

Being part of a blended family
Caring for children with special needs
Establishing and maintaining trusts
…and any other concerns you have!

Do you have a large estate or an interest in more advanced estate planning tools like trusts?

If your estate equals or exceeds a value of $1 million, or needs special estate planning tools like trusts, it may be best to talk with an attorney.

Yes

Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:

What’s included:

Being part of a blended family
Caring for children with special needs
Establishing and maintaining trusts
…and any other concerns you have!

Are you looking to have your estate planning basics covered?

Our Estate Planning Package includes a Last Will & Testament, Health Care Directive & Living Will, and Financial Power of Attorney to cover all of your basic estate planning needs.

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you have minor children?

If you have minor children, you will want to name a guardian for them.

Yes

Do you have pets?

If you have a pet or pets, you will want to name someone to care for them.

Yes

Do you want to leave gifts to people or a charity?

If you want to give items or money to people or charities, you will want to make what are known as “specific gifts.”

Yes

Do you own a business?

If you own a business or a share of a business, you will want to plan for succession of ownership.

Yes

Do you want to decide how your property is distributed when you pass away?

Yes

Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?

In case you are incapacitated, you will want to list your health care preferences and name someone to handle your health care decisions.

Yes

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?

In case you are incapacitated, you will want to list your health care preferences and name someone to handle your health care decisions.

Yes

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

Yes

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Yes

Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:

What’s included:

Being part of a blended family
Caring for children with special needs
Establishing and maintaining trusts
…and any other concerns you have!

Estate Planning Package

For One Person

*Select your state

$135

What’s included:

Last will and testament
Health care directive & living will
Financial power of attorney
Free HIPAA release form
A comprehensive plan — for less
Free changes and revisions for one full year after purchase

*Select your state

Financial Power of Attorney

For One Person

*Select your state

$39

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Health Care Directive & Living Will

For One Person

*Select your state

$39

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your health care directive and living will before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament

For One Person

*Select your state

$79

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your will for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Estate Planning Package

For Two People

*Select your state

$255

What’s included:

Two wills, health care directives & living wills, and financial powers of attorney
Two free HIPAA release forms
You and your loved one create your own estate plans tailored to your individual needs
Attorney-approved documents customized to your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions for one full year after purchase

*Select your state

Financial Power of Attorney

For Two People

*Select your state

$78

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create an attorney-approved power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Health Care Directive & Living Will

For Two People

*Select your state

$78

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy.
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create an attorney-approved document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament

For Two People

*Select your state

$149

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create two wills customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your wills for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Health Care Directive & Living Will + Financial Power of Attorney

For One Person

*Select your state

$78

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your health care directive and living will before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase
Create your state-specific documents before you buy
Create a power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament + Financial Power of Attorney

For One Person

*Select your state

$118

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your will for a full year after purchase
Create your state-specific documents before you buy
Create a power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament + Health Care Directive & Living Will

For One Person

*Select your state

$118

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create a last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your will for a full year after purchase
Create your health care directive and living will before you buy
Create a document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Health Care Directive & Living Will + Financial Power of Attorney

For Two People

*Select your state

$156

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy.
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create an attorney-approved document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy
Create an attorney-approved power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament + Financial Power of Attorney

For Two People

*Select your state

$227

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create two wills customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your wills for a full year after purchase
Create an attorney-approved power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Last Will and Testament + Health Care Directive & Living Will

For Two People

*Select your state

$227

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy
Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents
Create two wills customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free changes and revisions to your wills for a full year after purchase
Create your state-specific, attorney-approved documents before you buy.
Create an attorney-approved document that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws
Free HIPAA release form
Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

*Select your state

Do I Really Need a Financial Power of Attorney?

If you become incapacitated due to an accident or illness and do not have a power of attorney, your next of kin must file an action in probate called a conservatorship. In this action, the court determines who manages your real estate, business, financial, and family maintenance affairs and places your matters in a protective proceeding. If this occurs, there is no guarantee that the court will choose your preference to act in this role or that this person will manage your affairs in a way you approve. A power of attorney takes out this uncertainty. You choose who acts on your behalf should you become incapacitated and you define their powers.

A power of attorney can help in other situations besides incapacity. For example, you may plan a long trip abroad, be deployed as a service member, or require short-term assistance finishing one transaction (e.g., you are unavailable to close on your house.) A power of attorney makes these instances easier too.

Click on the links below to jump down the page:

Learn about your options for creating a financial POA
Complete our easy guided process and we create your customized financial POA
Find out what you need to make your financial power of attorney valid
Get answers to common questions about financial powers of attorney

Last updated: February 01, 2022

Written by:

Jocelyn Mackie, J.D.

Contributing Author

Reviewed by:

Laura Temme, Esq.

Senior Legal Writer

District of Columbia Financial Power of Attorney Options

Financial Power of Attorney
For One Person

A do-it-yourself financial power of attorney form that’s easy to personalize.

$39

What’s included:

Try our easy step-by-step guide

Create your state-specific documents before you buy

Only purchase if you are satisfied with your estate planning documents

Create a power of attorney that’s customized to your wishes and your state’s laws

Free changes and revisions to your document for a full year after purchase

* Select your state:

BEST VALUE

Estate Planning Package
For One Person

All the forms you need to create a personal estate plan.

$135

What’s included:

Last will and testament

Health care directive & living will

Financial power of attorney

Free HIPAA release form

A comprehensive plan — for less

Free changes and revisions for one full year after purchase

* Select your state:

How It Works

The process takes less than an hour, and you can complete it from the comfort of your home.

Answer Some Questions

Decide who your agent will be and what authority you want them to have. Then, simply answer a few questions.

Create an Account

Creating an account is easy, quick, and secure. Save your information as you go and return when you have time.

Complete Your Document

Once you answer the relevant questions, we do the hard part and create your unique document.

Print, Sign & Make It Legal

Print and sign your document following the instructions. This may include signing in front of witnesses or a notary.

How To Get a Washington, D.C., Power of Attorney Form

See full process

Understand how a POA works in D.C.

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint an agent to act on your behalf. The person making the appointment (you) is the principal. An agent in a power of attorney is also called an attorney-in-fact.

Washington, D.C. presumes powers of attorney are durable, meaning they remain effective regardless of your future incapacity. Most people prefer that their powers of attorney are durable since they execute them as a backup in case they are incapacitated or unavailable.

Powers of attorney are no longer enforceable if the principal is dead. If you wish to execute an instrument that manages your property or business after you die, choose a living trust or last will and testament.

Next Step

Choose your agent

Choose your agent or attorney-in-fact carefully. They should be someone who looks out for your best interests and knows your essential matters — like whether you have a mortgage, where you run your business, where you bank, etc. Common agent choices include spouses and live-in partners. Single people may choose a close friend, family member, or business partner. Once you select your primary agent, designate a secondary agent. You never know if something occurs and leaves the first choice of agent unavailable or unwilling to carry out their duties in the power of attorney.

Next Step Previous Step

Define your agent’s duties

Your form will list duties and powers you can assign to your agent. They include the general powers that allow agents to sign contracts, handle records, and manage any current litigation (if applicable) on your behalf. You can also assign the specific powers defined in DC Code sections 21-2104 through 21-2117. Specific powers include real property, financial, business, and other routine transactions.

Next Step Previous Step

Find a notary

You must sign a Washington, D.C. power of attorney in front of a notary public. When you finish the form, check your financial institution to see if they have a notary on staff. If not, you can find notaries at print and mail service locations or hire a mobile notary public to visit you at home or work.

Next Step Previous Step

Make copies

Store the original power of attorney in a safe deposit box or fireproof cabinet. Make copies of it and provide them to your agent, family members, and anyone else affected by its contents.

If you find you need to revoke your power of attorney, you can do so by executing a new power of attorney or a document called a revocation of power of attorney.

Previous Step

You May Want to Speak With a Lawyer if:

You don’t know who to choose as your agent
You want to use a POA for Medicaid planning
You want to discuss which powers you should give your agent
You want legal review of your completed power of attorney

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Washington, D.C., Financial Power of Attorney Form FAQ

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How Much Does a Financial Power of Attorney Cost?

A Washington, D.C. estate planning attorney charges around $200 to $500 an hour to draft powers of attorney and offer legal advice. You can reduce this expense by completing a form through a DIY service like FindLaw’s.

FindLaw is not a law firm, and the forms are not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. If you have legal questions or want a legal review of your document, you can hire an attorney to handle this limited scope — for less than the full legal process.

Is There Such a Thing as a Free Washington, D.C., Power of Attorney?

You can find free power of attorney forms online. However, you do not know if they are effective in Washington, D.C., or appropriate for your circumstances. They rarely come with instructions, and you may not finish them correctly. It is better to consult with an attorney or buy a form with instructions than to take a chance on free forms.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Financial Power of Attorney?

If you are a married wage earner whose assets are jointly owned, you will have fewer issues finishing a financial power of attorney correctly.

There are situations where you need an attorney for any estate planning documents, including a power of attorney. These situations carry more risk and more significant impacts if a power of attorney is not legally correct:

High chance of family conflict that delays management of your affairs or estate
You own a business or a majority share in a company or partnership
You are single and choosing a non-family member as your attorney-in-fact

A Washington, D.C. estate planning attorney can help you with a durable power of attorney, but also a last will and testament, living trust, healthcare directive, and medical power of attorney. Follow the link to find an attorney in your area.

Prefer to Work With a Lawyer?

Find an experienced estate planning attorney.

Washington, D.C., Financial Power of Attorney Form

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Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Last Will and Testament

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Financial Power of Attorney

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Health Care Directive & Living Will

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Last Will and Testament

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Health Care Directive & Living Will + Financial Power of Attorney

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Last Will and Testament + Financial Power of Attorney

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Last Will and Testament + Health Care Directive & Living Will

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Health Care Directive & Living Will + Financial Power of Attorney

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Financial Power of Attorney
For One Person

Estate Planning Package
For One Person