Maryland General Financial Power of Attorney Form

What Is a Maryland General Power of Attorney and What Does It Require?

A general power of attorney is a written document that names an agent to act for the principal in financial matters. According to Section 17-101 of the Maryland Code, a "power of attorney" is any writing or record allowing an agent to act on behalf of the principal, even if it doesn't specifically use the term "power of attorney."^[3.1] Maryland Code, Estates and Trusts, Title 17, Subtitle 2 provides statutory form powers of attorney. A statutory form power of attorney is one that is substantially in the same form as one of the forms set out in Subtitle 2 of Title 17.^[3.2] Section 17-110 of the Md. Code, Est. & Trusts sets the statutory formalities for a power of attorney in Maryland. A valid Maryland general power of attorney must be in writing, signed by the principal, acknowledged before a notary public, and attested by two or more adult witnesses.

• In writing. Except as provided in subsection (e) of that section, a power of attorney signed on or after October 1, 2010 must be in writing.^[1.2]
• Signed. The principal signs it, or another person signs for the principal in the principal's physical presence and at the principal's express direction.
• Notarized. The principal acknowledges the document in the physical or electronic presence of a notary public.
• Witnessed. Two or more adult witnesses attest the document and sign it.^[1.1]

Attested and signed by two or more adult witnesses who sign in: the physical presence of the principal and each other; or the electronic presence of the principal and each other or any combination of physical or electronic presence.

In plain words, the witnesses can sign in the same room as the principal and each other, online, or in a mix of both.

Maryland General Power of Attorney Form Details

When a Maryland General Power of Attorney Ends

A Maryland power of attorney ends when the principal dies or revokes it. It also ends when its own terms say so, when its purpose is accomplished, or when the principal becomes incapacitated and the document is not durable. It ends too when the agent is gone and no other agent is named to act. Section 17-112(a) lists these events.^[2.1] Under Section 17-105 of the Md. Code, Est. & Trusts, a written power of attorney is durable unless its own terms provide otherwise.^[4.1]

In practice, tell your agent and any bank that holds your accounts when you revoke (cancel) a power of attorney. A written notice sent by email or letter leaves a record.

Filling Out the Maryland General Power of Attorney Form

The free Maryland general power of attorney form is a PDF template you can fill out online with FormsPal or download the Adobe PDF and complete it. To type into a downloaded copy, use the online PDF editor. The twelve steps below follow the form from page 1 to the witness lines on page 6.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Maryland 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.

1. Principal and agent (page 1). Write your name and address, then your agent's name and address, in the blanks of the appointment paragraph. The notice above it says the powers are broad and that the document does not cover medical decisions.

   

2. Initial powers (A) to (K) (page 2). Initial the line in front of each power you are granting, from (A) real property transactions through (K) benefits from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or other governmental programs. Skip any power you do not want to grant by leaving its line blank.

   

3. Initial (L), (M) and (N) all powers (page 2). Initial (L) retirement plan transactions and (M) tax matters if you grant them. To grant every power, initial line (N) only, since the form says you need not initial the other lines. Special instructions 1 to 3 follow as typed text with no blanks.

   

4. Effective date (page 3). Initial one line: effective immediately, or effective on a date. If you choose a date, initial that line and fill in the date and year.

   

5. Termination: written revocation (page 3). The form says to initial one termination line. Initial the first line if the power of attorney should end when you sign a written revocation.

   

6. Termination: date or incapacity (page 3). Instead, initial the second line and fill in a date and year, or the third line to end the power when you are determined to be incapacitated. The form defines incapacitated in the paragraph that follows, which runs onto page 4.

   

7. Successor attorney-in-fact (page 4). Fill in your agent's name, then the alternate agent's name and address. The co-agent paragraph above it is typed text with no blanks.

   

8. Signed this day, signature and printed name (page 4). Enter the day, month and year, sign on the signature line and print your name.

   

9. Acknowledgment (page 5). Take the form to a notary public for the acknowledgment on page 5. Fill in the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and your name as the person who appeared.

   

10. Notary signature and seal (page 5). The officer signs the line that reads "WITNESS my hand and official seal" and adds the seal.

    

11. Witness attestation (page 6). Enter your name in the attestation paragraph, which states that the power of attorney was declared in the witnesses' presence.

    

12. Witness 1 and witness 2 lines (page 6). Each of the two witnesses signs and prints a name, address and telephone number on the lines for Witness #1 and Witness #2.

    

How to Sign and Use the Maryland General Power of Attorney

Filling out the form is only part of the job. Once the notary and the two witnesses have completed their sections, three practical steps help your agent put the document to use. They are general practice, not Maryland requirements.

1. Check the form. Read the content of every entry once more and confirm that the powers you initialed and the dates match your wishes.
2. Keep the signed original safe. Store it where you can reach it and your agent can find it.
3. Give a copy to your agent. Your agent may also need to show a copy to banks or other institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover what happens to an agent's authority under Section 17-112 of the Md. Code, Est. & Trusts, which sets out when that authority ends and how long it lasts. They come from the statute itself.

Can I take away my agent's authority?

Yes. An agent's authority ends when the principal revokes it.^[2.2]

What happens if my agent dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns?

The agent's authority ends.^[2.2] The FormsPal form has a Successor Attorney-in-Fact line on page 4 where you can name an alternate agent.

Does a divorce end my agent's authority?

It can, if your agent is your spouse. Filing for dissolution, annulment or legal separation of that marriage ends the agent's authority, unless the power of attorney provides otherwise.^[2.2]

Does my agent's authority expire after a long time?

No, not unless the document says so. The authority stays exercisable until it terminates under Section 17-112(b), despite the lapse of time.^[2.3]

Does the agent's authority end when the power of attorney ends?

Yes. Once the power of attorney ends, the agent's authority ends with it.^[2.2]

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General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Md. Code, Est. & Trusts.

1. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 17-110.
   • 1.1 § 17-110
   • 1.2 § 17-110(a)
2. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 17-112.
   • 2.1 § 17-112(a)
   • 2.2 § 17-112(b)
   • 2.3 § 17-112(c)
3. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 17-101. Accessed October 15, 2026.
   • 3.1 § 17-101(i)
   • 3.2 § 17-101(p)
4. Md. Code, Est. & Trusts § 17-105. Accessed October 17, 2026.
   • 4.1 § 17-105(c)

Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

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.