Power Attorney Form

Power of Attorney and Health Care - General - District of Columbia

A statutory power of attorney is legally sufficient under this chapter if the wording of the form complies substantially with § 21-2101(a), the form is properly completed, and the signature of the principal is acknowledged.

A statutory power of attorney is durable to the extent that durable powers are permitted by sections 21-2081 through 21-2085, or other law of the District of Columbia and the power of attorney contains language such as "This power of attorney will continue to be effective if I become disabled, incapacitated, or incompetent," showing the intent of the principal that the power granted may be exercised notwithstanding later disability, incapacity, or incompetency.

A durable power of attorney is a power of attorney by which a principal designates, in writing, another as his or her attorney in fact. The power of attorney must contain the words "This power of attorney shall not be affected by subsequent disability or incapacity of the principal, or lapse of time", or "This power of attorney shall become effective upon the disability or incapacity of the principal", or similar words showing the intent of the principal that the authority conferred is exercisable notwithstanding the principal's subsequent disability or incapacity and, unless it states a time of termination, notwithstanding the lapse of time since the execution of the instrument.

All acts done by an attorney in fact pursuant to a durable power of attorney during any period of incapacity of the principal have the same effect and inure to the benefit of and bind the principal and his successors in interest as if the principal were not incapacitated.

If, following execution of a durable power of attorney, a court of the principal's domicile appoints a conservator, guardian of the estate, or other fiduciary charged with the management of all of the principal's property or all of his or her property except specific exclusions, the attorney in fact is accountable to the fiduciary as well as to the principal. The fiduciary has the same power to revoke or amend the power of attorney that the principal would have had if he or she were not disabled or incapacitated.

A principal may nominate the conservator, guardian of his or her estate, or guardian of his or her person for consideration by the court if protective proceedings for the principal's person or estate are later commenced. The court will make its appointment in accordance with the principal's most recent nomination in a durable power of attorney except for good cause or disqualification.

The death of a principal who has executed a power of attorney, durable or otherwise, does not revoke or terminate the agency as to the attorney in fact or other person, who, without actual knowledge of the death of the principal, acts in good faith under the power.

The incapacity of a principal who has previously executed a written power of attorney that is not a durable power does not revoke or terminate the agency as to the attorney in fact or other person, who, without actual knowledge of the disability of incapacity of the principal, acts in good faith under the power.

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