This Ohio power of attorney form lets a principal appoint a trusted person, called an attorney-in-fact or agent, to manage the principal’s financial matters. It is a durable power of attorney, which means it stays in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated. The document must list which matters the agent may handle, such as real estate, personal property, or financial accounts. Under Ohio law, a power of attorney is durable unless it expressly states that it ends when the principal becomes incapacitated.[1]
Ohio power of attorney templates – find other power of attorney documents for Ohio along with directions.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Ohio law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Ohio law provides a statutory form power of attorney.[4] FormsPal’s builder is designed to produce a document that lines up with this format, which helps agents, banks, and other institutions recognize it.
A power of attorney is called “durable” because it stays in effect even after the principal becomes incapacitated. Under Ohio law, state this explicitly if you want the form to terminate on your incapacity instead.[1]
A general power of attorney lets the agent handle a broad range of matters for the principal. The agent can make decisions about the principal’s property and money whether or not the principal is able to act. This form does not let the agent make health-care decisions.
Choose an attorney-in-fact you trust completely. Once the document is in effect, the agent can keep acting on your behalf even after you become incapacitated, unless the form states otherwise.
Under Ohio law, a power of attorney must be signed by the principal, or by another person who signs the principal’s name in the principal’s conscious presence and at the principal’s direction.[2] The principal’s signature is presumed genuine if it is acknowledged before a notary public or another person authorized to take acknowledgments.[2] This can make it easier for banks and other institutions to accept the document.
You can only choose one person to act as an attorney-in-fact. If you want to name more than one agent, name a “coagent” in the form. Coagents do not need to agree with each other unless you require that in the form.
The person creating a power of attorney in Ohio must be an adult and of sound mind. When you complete the form, you will be asked to initial the categories you want your agent to have.
These are some examples of the categories that an Ohio power of attorney form can include, based on Ohio’s statutory form power of attorney:[4]
It is a good idea to have the form acknowledged before a notary public, since Ohio law presumes an acknowledged signature is genuine.[2] A power of attorney takes effect immediately after signing unless the form states a different effective date.[4]
| Document Name | Ohio Durable Power of Attorney Form |
| Other Names | Ohio Financial Durable Power of Attorney, OH DPOA |
| Relevant Laws | Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1337 |
| Signing Requirements | Notarization (Recommended) |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 37 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
Popular Local Durable POA Forms
Durable power of attorney forms enable you to establish a representative who can manage your financial matters even in case you become unable to make decisions yourself. These are the states DPOA documents are downloaded in most frequently.
The difference is durability. A regular power of attorney ends automatically if the principal becomes incapacitated. A durable power of attorney stays in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated, unless the document expressly states that it ends on incapacity.[1] Most people creating a power of attorney for long-term planning choose the durable version. It lets their agent keep acting for them if they become unable to manage their own affairs.
A power of attorney ends automatically when certain events occur under Ohio law, and an agent’s authority to act can also end on its own even if the power of attorney itself continues.[3] Ohio law lists the following events as triggers for termination:
An agent’s authority can also end on its own, separate from the power of attorney itself. This happens when the principal revokes the agent’s authority, or when the agent dies, becomes incapacitated, or resigns.[3]
A termination is not effective against an agent or another person who acts in good faith without actual knowledge of it.[3] For that reason, notify your agent and any relevant institutions in writing once you revoke or the power of attorney otherwise ends.
Use FormsPal’s builder to complete your Ohio power of attorney form (durable) quickly, or fill out the downloadable PDF by hand. The form asks for your information, your agent’s information, the powers you are granting, and how the document should take effect. Follow the six steps below in order, then sign the acknowledgment before a notary public.
On page 1, fill in your name and address, then your agent’s (attorney-in-fact’s) name and address.
On page 2, initial line (N), “All of the powers listed above,” to grant every power, or initial only the specific lettered powers you want your agent to have.
On page 3, initial one of the three choices in the Effective Date section: effective immediately, effective on a specific date, or effective only if you become incapacitated.
On page 4, if you want a backup agent, fill in the successor’s name and address in case your first agent becomes unable or unwilling to serve.
On page 4, enter the date, then sign and print your name.
On page 5, sign the acknowledgment in front of a notary public, who will fill in the county, date, and their own name and seal.
Other Durable POA Forms by State
Download this Ohio power of attorney form as a free PDF, or use FormsPal’s online builder to create, save, and print a completed document in minutes. The template below reflects Ohio’s statutory power of attorney form.[4]
This page is general information about Ohio durable power of attorneys, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, talk to a Ohio attorney.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Ohio Rev. Code Ann..