What is required for a Power of Attorney document to be valid?

For a Power of Attorney (POA) document to be valid, it generally must be signed, dated, and witnessed. This ensures that the principal (the person granting the authority) has clearly indicated their intent to grant power to the attorney-in-fact (the person receiving the authority) and that they have done so in a legally acceptable manner.

Signature and dating are crucial because they confirm the principal's consent and establish the timeline of the document. Witnesses are required to verify that the principal is of sound mind and not acting under duress or undue influence when signing the document. This step helps prevent any future disputes regarding the validity of the POA, as the witnesses can attest to the circumstances under which the POA was executed.

While notarization can add an extra layer of authenticity to the document, it is not universally required in all jurisdictions. Similarly, registering a POA with the government or publishing it publicly is not a standard requirement for validity, although such steps may be necessary in specific situations or for specific documents, such as those dealing with real estate transactions. However, the fundamental requirements of signature, date, and witness presence are what primarily underlie the validity of a Power of Attorney.