Power of Attorney
Also called: POA
A written authorization by which one person (the principal) grants another (the attorney-in-fact or agent) authority to act on the principal's behalf in financial, legal, or medical matters. Pennsylvania POAs must be signed, notarized, and witnessed to be effective.
Under 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b), a valid PA power of attorney requires the principal’s signature to be both acknowledged before a notary and witnessed by two adults who are not the notary, the agent, or the agent’s relatives. The § 304(b) conflict-of-interest bar applies sharply here: a notary cannot notarize a POA in which the notary or the notary’s spouse is named as attorney-in-fact, because that creates a direct interest in the transaction. A notary also cannot explain to the principal what powers the document grants — that is unauthorized practice of law under § 325.
Source: 20 Pa.C.S. § 5601(b) — Execution of power of attorney — link
See also: attorney-in-fact, principal, acknowledgment
This page is educational information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania notary law changes; always verify against the current version of RULONA (57 Pa.C.S. §§ 301–331) and 4 Pa. Code at pa.gov. Consult a PA-licensed attorney for specific situations.