A Rhode Island limited power of attorney (POA) is a written legal document. In it, you, the principal, name an agent to act for you on the specific purposes you list and nothing else. This free form lets you name your agent, describe those purposes and set when the power starts and ends. People use one for a single financial matter, a real estate transaction or a set period away from home.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Rhode Island law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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Rhode Island Limited Power of Attorney Requirements
Under Chapter 18-16 of the Rhode Island General Laws, a "statutory short form power of attorney" must be in writing and acknowledged by the principal.[1.3] These rules apply to that statutory form. The sections below explain what each rule means for a person who wants to sign a power of attorney, and where the FormsPal form fits in.
Section 18-16-2(b) of the R.I. Gen. Laws puts the acknowledgment rule this way:
The execution of this statutory short form power of attorney shall be duly acknowledged by the principal in the manner prescribed for the acknowledgement of a conveyance of real property.
In plain words, a statutory short form power of attorney has two formalities:
In writing. The power of attorney must be a written document.[1.3]
Acknowledged by the principal. The principal acknowledges it the way Rhode Island prescribes for acknowledging a conveyance of real property.[1.1]
The FormsPal form has an acknowledgment page on page 3 for a notary public or other officer to complete, so the second formality has a place on the form itself.
Rhode Island Limited Power of Attorney Form Details
How to Fill Out the Rhode Island Limited Power of Attorney Form
To fill out the Rhode Island limited power of attorney form, start on page 1 with the principal and the agent, then list the limited purposes and set the dates. The form has three pages, and the steps below follow its order. Download the PDF or build it online with the buttons above. To type into the downloaded PDF, use our online PDF editor.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Rhode Island limited 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 (page 1). Write your name and address on the first lines, then write your agent's name and address on the appointment lines that follow. Your agent is the person who acts for you, also called your attorney-in-fact.Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Purpose(s) (page 1). Describe each limited purpose on the lines under "purpose(s)." The preprinted Special Instructions paragraph below them limits the powers to these purposes and has nothing to fill in.Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Effective date (page 1). Initial one line under Effective Date. The first line makes the power of attorney effective immediately. The second lets you write in a date.Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Termination date: written revocation (page 1). Under Termination Date, initial one line. The first line ends the power of attorney when you have signed a written revocation, and it continues at the top of page 2.Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Termination date, other options, and successor agent (page 2). Also on page 2, the other two termination lines end it on a date you write in or when you are determined to be incapacitated. Then enter the agent's name and the alternate's name and address in the Successor Attorney-in-Fact paragraph.Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Signed this day of (page 2). Fill in the day, month and year, sign on the signature line and print your name below it. Read the paragraph about third parties above the signature line first.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: state, county and officer (page 3). Page 3 is the acknowledgment page. The county, the date, the officer's name and title, and your name go in the blanks when you appear before the officer. The page says the officer verifies only the identity of the person who signed.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Officer's signature and seal (page 3). The notary or other officer signs on the Signature line and adds the seal at the spot marked (seal).Step 8: sample entries, not a real document.
Name each task on its own purpose line and be specific about what it covers, such as one account, one piece of property or one transaction. A short, specific list is easier for your agent to follow. For example, write "Sign the closing papers for the sale of the property at 12 Example Street, Providence" instead of "Handle my real estate."
How to Sign and Use the Rhode Island Limited Power of Attorney
To put a Rhode Island limited power of attorney in place, print the completed form, sign it, and have the acknowledgment on page 3 completed. That page is where the principal acknowledges the document, as the state's acknowledgment rule calls for.[1.1] The steps below cover what to do once the form is filled in.
Sign and acknowledge. Take the printed form to a notary public or another officer who can complete the acknowledgment. Many people sign at that same appointment so that pages 2 and 3 are done together.
Share copies. Give copies of the signed form to your agent, any successor agent, and the banks, offices or people who will ask for proof of the agent's authority.
Keep the original safe. Store it where you and your agent can find it. If you later end the power of attorney, tell your agent and anyone who holds a copy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid on the Form
Most problems come from skipped lines and vague wording. Check these points before you print:
Leaving the Effective Date or Termination Date lines without an initial.
Listing purposes so broadly that your agent cannot tell what is covered.
Mixing up the agent and the successor attorney-in-fact on page 2.
Printing the form without the acknowledgment page that the notary or other officer completes.
The answers below come from the Rhode Island statute named in the sources listed at the end of this page. They explain three points that people often ask about before they sign a power of attorney:
What a statutory short form power of attorney must contain in Rhode Island.
Whether you must use a particular form.
What happens when you name more than one agent.
What does a statutory short form power of attorney have to contain in Rhode Island?
It must be in writing, be duly acknowledged by the principal, and contain the exact wording of the clause first set forth in subsection (a) of Section 18-16-2.[1.3]
Do I have to use a particular form for a Rhode Island power of attorney?
No. The chapter does not bar any other or different form of power of attorney that the parties concerned want to use, so a special form is not required.[1.2]
What happens if I name more than one agent in Rhode Island?
For a statutory short form power of attorney, the agents must act jointly unless the principal specifically provides in the form that they are to act severally.[2] The FormsPal limited form has lines for one agent and one successor agent.
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.
