An Iowa durable power of attorney is a written document that lets a principal appoint an agent, also called an attorney-in-fact, to manage the principal’s financial affairs under the Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act, Iowa Code chapter 633B. It is durable because it stays in effect even if the principal becomes incapacitated, unless the document itself says otherwise.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Iowa law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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People use this document to plan ahead for illness, disability, or extended absence. The agent can handle banking, manage real estate, make investment decisions, and deal with taxes on the principal’s behalf.
A durable POA form only covers financial and property matters, not health care decisions. For medical decisions, consider the other Iowa POA forms available, such as a medical power of attorney.
An Iowa durable power of attorney must meet a short list of requirements under the Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act to be valid. These requirements cover how it is written, who signs it, and how it is acknowledged before a notary public.[2] The requirements below apply whether you use FormsPal’s template or draft your own.
An agent named in the power of attorney may not notarize the principal’s own signature.[2] Use a different notary public to complete the acknowledgment.
Iowa Code § 633B.301 also provides a statutory power of attorney form that may be used to create a statutory power of attorney.[4]
Once signed and acknowledged, the power of attorney is effective immediately unless you state a different effective date or condition in the special instructions.[4] It remains in effect until the principal’s death or until the principal revokes it. The principal can revoke it at any time.[3]
| Document Name | Iowa Durable Power of Attorney Form |
| Other Names | Iowa Financial Durable Power of Attorney, IA DPOA |
| Relevant Laws | Iowa Code § 633B.105 |
| Signing Requirements | Notary Public |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 37 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
Popular Local Durable POA Forms
Durable POA documents are used in each and every state. Take a look at other popular DPOA forms frequently filled out by Americans.
An Iowa durable power of attorney ends automatically when the principal dies, when the principal revokes it, when its own terms say it ends, or when its purpose is fully accomplished. If the document does not say it is durable, the principal’s incapacity ends it too. Signing a new general power of attorney automatically revokes any earlier general power of attorney you executed in Iowa, though it does not revoke one limited to a specific transaction that is still pending.[3]
An agent’s own authority can end separately from the document itself. It ends when any of the following happens[3]:
If the principal revokes an agent’s authority, or the agent dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns, and the document does not name another agent to act, the power of attorney terminates entirely rather than just that agent’s authority. Unless the document says otherwise, an agent’s authority stays exercisable until it terminates under these rules, no matter how much time has passed since you signed it.[3]
If you revoke it, tell your agent in writing and notify any bank or other institution that has a copy on file so they know not to rely on it anymore.
Ending a power of attorney is not always effective right away in practice. An agent or another person who acts in good faith without actual knowledge of a termination or revocation is still protected, and that good-faith act still binds the principal and the principal’s successors.[3]
The same protection applies to incapacity. If the power of attorney is not durable, the principal’s incapacity does not revoke it as to a person who acts in good faith without actual knowledge of the incapacity.[3] Tell your agent and anyone your agent deals with as soon as you revoke a power of attorney.
Follow these steps in order to fill out your Iowa durable power of attorney form. Start by naming yourself and your agent, then initial the powers you want to grant and review the pre-drafted special instructions. Choose an effective date, name a successor agent in case your first choice cannot serve, then sign, date, and have it notarized.
Enter your full name and address as the principal, then enter your agent’s full name and address. Your agent, also called your attorney-in-fact, will act for you in the subjects you initial below.
Initial line (N), “All of the powers listed above,” to grant every listed power, or initial only the specific subjects you want to grant, such as real property, banking, or tax matters. Leave a line blank to withhold that power. For example, real property authority lets your agent buy, sell, or manage your house or land, and banking authority lets your agent make deposits, withdrawals, and account transfers. None of these powers include health care decisions, which require a separate health care power of attorney.
The form includes pre-drafted special instructions covering HIPAA medical-record access for your agent, health-care claims and reimbursements, retirement-account transactions, and digital-asset access. For example, the HIPAA instruction lets your agent see your medical records to handle insurance claims, even though the form itself does not grant medical decision-making authority. Review each instruction and strike out any you do not want to grant.
Initial one of three options: effective immediately and continuing even if you become incapacitated, effective on a future date you specify, or effective only once you become incapacitated as defined in the form. The form defines “incapacitated” as a court ruling that you are incompetent, a court-appointed conservator or guardian for your estate, or written certification from two unrelated physicians that you can no longer manage your finances.
If your agent is unable or unwilling to serve, name a successor attorney-in-fact and their address so someone can still act for you.
Sign and date the form. Signing it also revokes any earlier general power of attorney you executed in Iowa.
Take the signed form to a notary public. The notary confirms your identity and completes the acknowledgment. Do not let your named agent serve as the notary.
An Iowa durable power of attorney is a document that lets a principal appoint an agent to manage the principal’s finances, and it stays in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated. A power of attorney created under Iowa Code chapter 633B is durable unless it expressly says the principal’s incapacity terminates it.[1] If the document does not say it is durable, the principal’s incapacity ends it instead.[3]
This page is general information about Iowa durable power of attorneys, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to an Iowa attorney.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Iowa Code.
