District of Columbia Statutory Durable Power of Attorney

The complete statutory appointment

The District’s statutory form provides a primary agent, optional successors, general powers, specific powers, special instructions and agent duties. The printable transcription also preserves the separate statutory real-property notice at the top of its first page. Keep that page with the rest of the document. This is a formatted transcription of public statutory text, not a government-issued PDF or an individualized legal opinion.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

Separate ordinary and sensitive powers

Initial the general categories you want, or the all-subjects option. Trust creation, gifts, beneficiary changes and other sensitive powers have separate initial lines. The form is effective immediately unless its special instructions say otherwise. Reasonable compensation is contemplated unless you provide different instructions. If you add co-agents, they may act independently unless you require joint action in the special instructions.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

Complete property and execution requirements

If you authorize the sale, grant or release of an interest in real property, complete the front-page notice and arrange deed-style execution and recording with a lawyer or title professional. The power must be recorded with or before the deed; a later deed must identify a previously recorded appointment as the statute requires. For ordinary financial authority, the principal must still acknowledge the signature before an authorized officer. Retain the full agent-duty section and give institutions complete executed copies.

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

Related forms and guides

• District of Columbia Power of Attorney Forms
• District of Columbia Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• Durable Financial Power of Attorney Forms by State
• Medical vs. Financial Power of Attorney

Sources and verification

1. Council of the District of Columbia: source and instructions ↗ (opens in a new tab)
2. Signing and legal requirements ↗ (opens in a new tab)
3. Authority and statutory guidance ↗ (opens in a new tab)

The complete cited statutory form was checked against this printable edition. All substantive words are preserved; blanks and pagination are reformatted. No independent attorney review is claimed.

The date above records a source check. It does not certify that a form is suitable for your circumstances or that an attorney has reviewed your document. Read the publisher’s current instructions before use.