An Illinois general power of attorney (POA) is a legal form that lets the principal authorize an agent, also called an attorney-in-fact, to act on their behalf in financial matters. The FormsPal form covers real estate, banking, business dealings, and more, and it does not authorize health care decisions. Illinois sets the signing rules for a POA in the Illinois Power of Attorney Act (755 ILCS 45).[1.2]
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Illinois law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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About the Illinois General Power of Attorney Form
The FormsPal template is a PDF with six form pages, also known as the Illinois financial power of attorney. You can build it online with the FormsPal builder, or download the PDF and print it for signing. Either way, you finish with a form that is ready for signing and notarization.
Illinois sets the signing rules for a power of attorney for property in Section 3-3 of the Illinois Power of Attorney Act (755 ILCS 45). A valid POA for property has four requirements, and the legal wording follows the list.
The principal signs the form.
The form designates the attorney-in-fact and states the scope of that person's authority.
At least one witness signs to confirm the principal's signature.
The form shows that the principal acknowledged the signature before a notary public.[1.2]
Nonstatutory property powers must be executed by the principal, must designate the agent and the agent's powers, must be signed by at least one witness to the principal's signature, and must indicate that the principal has acknowledged his or her signature before a notary public.
The notary may not also sign as a witness.[1.2] So plan for at least two people besides the principal.
What Can an Agent Do Under the Illinois POA Form?
The form lists 13 specific subjects, (A) through (M), plus option (N) for all of them. The principal initials the line in front of each subject to grant, and a line left blank is withheld, which helps when you want to limit the authority and manage the risk. The form lists them in this order.
(A) Real property transactions
(B) Tangible personal property transactions
(C) Stock and bond transactions
(D) Commodity and option transactions
(E) Banking and other financial institution transactions
(F) Business operating transactions
(G) Insurance and annuity transactions
(H) Estate, trust, and other beneficiary transactions
(I) Claims and litigation
(J) Personal and family maintenance
(K) Benefits from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or other governmental programs, or civil or military service
(L) Retirement plan transactions
(M) Tax matters
(N) All of the above
The form also prints three special instructions. One covers claims and reimbursements under medical plans. One covers access to retirement and savings accounts. The third covers digital assets, such as email, social media, and online accounts.
This form covers money and property. The form states that it does not authorize anyone to make medical and other health-care decisions for you.
Filling Out the Illinois General POA Form
The FormsPal template has 11 parts across six form pages, so you complete it in order from top to bottom. You can fill it in with the FormsPal builder, or on the downloaded PDF with the online PDF editor.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Illinois general power of attorney template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
Principal and agent: on page 1, fill in who you are and where you live, then who you appoint and where they live, in the opening paragraph.Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Subjects (A) to (K): on page 2, initial the line in front of each subject you want to grant. Leave a line blank to withhold it.Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Subjects (L), (M) and (N): still on page 2, initial retirement plan transactions, tax matters, or both. To grant everything, initial (N) instead and ignore the other lines. The special instructions are printed, so there is nothing to fill in.Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Effective date: on page 3, initial one of the two lines about the start. One line starts the POA right away, and the other starts it on a date. For a date, write the date and year.Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Termination date, first option: still on page 3, the form offers three ways to end the POA. Initial the first line if it should end when you sign a written revocation.Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Termination date, other options: initial the second line to end it on a date, then write the date and year. Initial the third line to end it if you are determined to be incapacitated. The form defines incapacitated on pages 3 and 4.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Successor agent: on page 4, fill in the first agent again, then add a successor and the successor's address. The successor takes over if the first one is unable or unwilling to serve.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Signing date and signature: still on page 4, fill in the day, month and year, sign the form, and print beneath your signature.Step 8: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: county, date and officer: on page 5, enter the county, the date, the officer's title, and the principal.Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: signature and seal: the officer signs on the Signature line next to the seal space.Step 10: sample entries, not a real document.
Witness block: on page 6, whoever witnesses the signature adds a signature, printed name, address and date.Step 11: sample entries, not a real document.
How to Sign and Use the Illinois POA
Some parts of the process happen before you fill in the form and some after. Read the form and choose your agent first, then review your entries, get it witnessed and notarized, and share copies.
Read the whole form: read every section before you fill in anything, so you know which subjects you are granting and what each choice means.
Choose someone you trust: your agent will manage your money and property. Under the Illinois Power of Attorney Act (Section 3-3), the Notice to Agent directs the agent to act in good faith for the best interest of the principal using due care, competence, and diligence, and to keep a complete and detailed record of all receipts, disbursements, and significant actions conducted for the principal.[1.2]
Review your entries: check that every date and initial is correct and that no line is missing or filled in by mistake.
Sign before a notary public: sign and date the form where it asks. The witness signs to confirm your signature, and you acknowledge it before the notary public.[1.2]
Share and store it: many people give a copy to the person they appointed and keep the original in a safe place.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the questions people ask most about an Illinois POA, including whether a special form is required, when the POA ends, whether incapacity ends it, and how a principal can revoke it. They follow the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.
Do I need a special form for a power of attorney in Illinois?
No. The statute says that nothing in its article invalidates or bars use by the principal of any other or different form of power of attorney for property.[1.3] The signing rules in the requirements section above still apply.[1.2]
When does an Illinois POA end?
Unless it states an earlier termination date, it continues until the principal dies.[1.1]
Does it end if the principal becomes incapacitated?
No, not by itself. The statute says the agency continues despite the principal's disability or incapacity, or the appointment of a guardian for the principal after it is signed.[1.1] The FormsPal form has an optional line that ends it if the principal is determined to be incapacitated. Initial that line only if you want that result.
How do I revoke an Illinois POA?
The statute says two things about revocation.
The principal can amend or revoke the agency at any time, if the principal has the capacity to do so.
A revocation can be made in any manner communicated to the agent or to any other person related to the subject matter of the agency.[1.1]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
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Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.
