Durable Financial Power of Attorney

At SimplyTrust, we believe every American family deserves access to basic estate planning documents, regardless of their financial situation. A last will, healthcare directive, or power of attorney are not luxuries reserved for those who can afford expensive legal fees. These free tools exist because protecting your loved ones matters. We do hope you will consider using our trust service for creating and managing revocable living trusts, but we are simply happy you are taking the time to protect the ones you love.

A durable financial power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to designate another person (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to handle your financial affairs on your behalf. The "durable" designation means the document remains effective even if you become incapacitated. Without the durable provision, the power of attorney would automatically terminate if you become unable to make decisions.

You will need your date of birth, current address, the name and contact information for your primary agent and any successor agents, and decisions about what financial powers you want to grant. You can choose to grant all powers or select specific powers such as banking, real estate, investments, tax matters, and more.

This form allows you to grant powers including: real property transactions, personal property transactions, banking, investments, business operations, insurance, retirement accounts, tax matters, claims and litigation, government benefits, digital assets, and safe deposit boxes. You can grant all powers or select only those you want.

Most financial powers of attorney take effect immediately upon signing. However, some states allow "springing" powers of attorney that only become effective upon your incapacity. The form will indicate whether your state allows springing powers of attorney.

Yes. No credit card, no account, no paywall. Your form entries never leave your browser.

No. SimplyTrust is not a law firm. This is a self-directed tool that records your choices--we do not review your entries or determine whether this document is appropriate for your situation. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Your downloaded document is not legally effective until you complete your state's execution requirements. Most states require notarization, and some require witnesses as well. Requirements vary significantly by state. Consult your state's statutes or a licensed attorney for specific requirements.

Yes. You can revoke your durable financial power of attorney at any time by: (1) executing a new power of attorney, (2) destroying the document, or (3) signing a written revocation. Notifying your agent and any third parties who have relied on the document is also important.

Choose someone you trust completely to handle your financial affairs. Your agent must be at least 18 years old, trustworthy, responsible, and willing to serve. Many people choose a spouse, adult child, or trusted friend. Naming successor agents is common in case your primary agent is unable or unwilling to serve.

A financial power of attorney authorizes your agent to handle financial matters like banking, investments, and property. A healthcare power of attorney authorizes your agent to make medical decisions on your behalf. These are separate documents with different purposes, and many people have both.