Power of Attorney Signing
Power of attorney signing occurs when an agent (attorney-in-fact) signs a document on behalf of a principal under a valid power of attorney, which is a legal instrument authorizing that representation.
What it means
When signing under a POA, the agent must typically sign in a form that identifies both themselves and the principal (e.g., 'Jane Smith, as attorney-in-fact for John Smith'). The POA document itself must be valid, not revoked, and often must be notarized. Electronic POA signing is permitted in many states, but some states still require wet ink signatures for the POA instrument itself.
Why it matters for e-signatures
Healthcare, financial, and real estate transactions frequently involve POA signings. SignOwl lets you attach the POA instrument as a supporting document and record the agent's representative capacity in the audit trail.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does a POA need to be notarized to be valid for electronic signing?
In most states, a durable power of attorney must be notarized to be effective, especially for real estate and financial transactions. Some states also require witness signatures on the POA itself.
Can a power of attorney be revoked after documents are signed?
Yes. A principal can revoke a POA at any time while competent. Revocation does not retroactively affect documents already validly signed before notice of revocation.
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