A Rhode Island minor child power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows parents or legal guardians to delegate certain parental powers to another adult for the care and custody of their child. Parents often use a Rhode Island minor child power of attorney form during an illness, a trip or military deployment. This POA form is free to fill out online, then download or print it.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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A minor child power of attorney lets you name a trusted adult to look after your child while you are away. Think of that adult as your stand-in for everyday matters, from school to doctor visits to travel plans. Choose someone your child knows well and who is easy to reach.
The minor child power of attorney can enable the designated adult to make decisions regarding the following:
The power of attorney must be in writing and signed by the parent or guardian in the presence of a notary public. It is essential to clearly outline the specific powers being granted and the duration of the POA. Rhode Island General Laws § 33-15.1-1 et seq. deals with the guardianship of minors and specifically addresses the responsibilities and powers of natural and appointed guardians.
Parents reach for this document whenever someone else will be looking after a child's daily needs. It gives the agent a clear written record of the role, so everyone involved knows who is helping while you are away.
Each situation looks a little different, so think about how long you will be away and what your agent will need to handle before you fill in the form.
The agent you name takes on real responsibility, so choose with care. A close relative, a longtime family friend or a trusted neighbor are common picks, and the best choice is someone your child already trusts. A power of attorney can give the agent broad authority or only specific authority, such as school pickups and doctor visits, so decide what you want the agent to handle.
Before you fill in the form, talk with your agent about a few things:
Having this talk first makes the form faster to complete, because you already know the details to enter. It also helps to give your child the agent's phone number so they know who to call.
The FormsPal template is a three-page PDF with fillable fields for names, addresses, dates and signatures. You can complete it on a computer or print it and fill it in by hand.
| Document Name | Rhode Island Minor Child Power of Attorney Form |
| Other Name | Rhode Island Parental Power of Attorney |
| Relevant Laws | Rhode Island General Laws, Chapter 33-15.1 |
| Duration | Not Specified |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 44 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
These steps follow the FormsPal template you can download on this page, from the first line to the last. Work from top to bottom and complete every blank that applies to you. Have the names, addresses and dates ready before you start.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Rhode Island Minor Child 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.
On Behalf of Minor Child: Your Details and the Child's
Enter your name and address, then initial the line that shows whether you are the parent, guardian or conservator. This section requires the petitioner’s name, relationship to the minor child (respondent), street address, city/town, state, zip code, and phone number. Write the minor child’s name, street address, city/town, state, zip code, and phone number. The form also asks for the child's date of birth.
Second Parent or Guardian, and the Agent
If there is more than one parent, guardian or conservator, complete the additional statement the same way. Then enter the name and address of the adult you are appointing as agent. In this section, you must nominate the individual who will act as the temporary guardian. Include the nominee’s name, relationship to the minor child, street address, city/town, state, and zip code.
Powers and Successor Attorney-in-Fact
Choose 1 for all authority or 2 for limited authority. If you choose 2, write the specific powers on the lines provided. Then name a backup agent and enter that person's address.
Effective Date
Enter the date the power of attorney starts and the date it continues until. Pick dates that cover the whole time you plan to be away.
Parental Rights Statement and Signatures
Read the parental rights statement above the signature lines. Then enter the day, month and year, sign on the first signature line and print your name below it. A second parent or guardian uses the second line.
Acknowledgment: State and County
Page 3 holds the acknowledgment section. Fill in the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who signed.
Officer's Signature and Seal
The officer adds a signature on the Signature line and places a seal in the space marked (seal). Leave this line empty until the officer is ready to sign.
Once the form is filled in, a few simple steps turn it into a document you can hand to the person you chose. Go through them in order, and keep every page together as you go.
Review the Completed Form
Read the finished form from start to end. Check that the names on it match the IDs of the people who will sign.
Declaration and Signature
The petitioner must sign the form to affirm that the information provided is accurate to the best of their knowledge. This includes the petitioner’s signature and the date of signing. The form should be signed in the presence of a notary public.
Notarization
A notary public will complete this section. The notary will confirm the petitioner’s identity, witness their signature, and notarize the document. This part includes the notary’s name, state, county, signature, commission ID, commission expiration date, and notary seal.
Court Filing Details
The final section of the form is for court use. It includes fields for the probate court’s information, such as the state, county, city, or town, as well as the judge’s signature and date. Ensure that this section is left blank for the court to complete.
Share and Store Copies
Keep the signed original in a safe place and make copies. Give one copy to the adult you named, and keep another with your child's important papers.
For circumstances requiring a longer-term arrangement, temporary guardianship can be established by filing a Rhode Island Form PC-2.1 (to be filed with Limited/Permanent Guardianship Petition). You can also check all Rhode Island POA forms on our site.
It is a document where a parent or guardian names another adult to look after a child for a time. Parents often use one during an illness or a trip.
Click Create My Document and answer a few simple questions. You can save your progress, finish on any device, then download and print the result.
Have the full names and addresses of everyone named on the form, the child's date of birth, and the dates you want the document to start and end.
Yes. Download the PDF and fill it in with the FormsPal PDF editor, or print it and write in the answers by hand.
Keep the signed original safe and make copies. Give one to the adult you named and keep another with your child's papers.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
