Pennsylvania Power of Attorney
Pennsylvania Power of Attorney
In Pennsylvania, a power of attorney must be signed, dated, notarized, AND witnessed by two people. It must also include the required statutory notice and agent acknowledgment.
Power of attorney requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania powers of attorney are governed by Title 20 of the Consolidated Statutes. A 2015 update (Act 95) tightened execution and added required notice and acknowledgment pages.
A valid Pennsylvania POA must be signed and dated, notarized, and witnessed by two people (who are not the agent or notary). It must also carry the statutory Notice to the principal, and the agent signs an Acknowledgment before acting.
Because of these formalities, careful execution matters in Pennsylvania — incomplete POAs are frequently questioned by banks.
Reference: 20 Pa. Consolidated Statutes §5601. This is general educational information, not legal advice — confirm current Pennsylvania requirements before signing.
Pennsylvania signing rules to know
- Pennsylvania requires notarization AND two witnesses (a 2015 change).
- A witness cannot be the agent or the notary, or the person who signed on the principal's behalf.
- The POA must include the statutory Notice to the principal and an Acknowledgment signed by the agent before acting.
How to create your Pennsylvania power of attorney
- 1. Open the iRunDocs power of attorney generator with Pennsylvania selected as your governing state.
- 2. Choose your agent and the specific powers you want to grant.
- 3. Review the PDF preview, then download your document.
- 4. Sign it following Pennsylvania's requirements above, then give copies to your agent and any institution that will rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Pennsylvania power of attorney need witnesses and a notary?
Yes. Since 2015, a Pennsylvania POA must be notarized and signed by two witnesses who are not the agent or the notary.
What notice does a Pennsylvania POA require?
It must include the statutory Notice to the principal and an Agent's Acknowledgment that the agent signs before acting under the power.
Is a Pennsylvania POA durable?
It is durable if it includes durability language stating it is not affected by the principal's later incapacity.
Power of attorney requirements in other states
iRunDocs provides document tools and educational information. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.