This free template builds a power of attorney for child Washington state families can use. It is a written document that lets a parent name another adult, the agent, to care for the child when the parent cannot. Parents often use it during military service, travel or a health care need. You can build it online, then download it as an Adobe PDF, print it and sign it.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Washington law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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Under Section 11.125.050 of the Revised Code of Washington, a power of attorney must be signed and dated by the principal. For this document, the principal is the parent. The signature must be acknowledged before a notary public or another officer authorized to take acknowledgments, or attested by two or more qualified witnesses.[1]
Under Section 11.130.145, a parent may delegate powers over the child's care, custody or property for no more than 24 months.[2]
| Document Name | Washington Minor Child Power of Attorney Form |
| Other Name | Washington Parental Power of Attorney |
| Relevant Laws | Wash. Rev. Code 11.125.050 and Wash. Rev. Code § 11.130.145 |
| Duration | Up to 24 months[2] |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 10 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 44 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
Washington gives you two ways to complete the signature:
The witnesses must be unrelated to you or the agent by blood, marriage or state registered domestic partnership. They also cannot be your home care providers, or care providers at an adult family home or long-term care facility where you live.[1] The FormsPal template includes a notary acknowledgment on its last page.
The statute sets both the time limit and the powers a parent can hand over. This is its wording:
A parent of a minor, by a power of attorney, may delegate to another person for a period not exceeding twenty-four months any of the parent's powers regarding care, custody, or property of the minor, other than power to consent to marriage or adoption.
In plain words, the delegation can last up to 24 months. The parent chooses which powers over the child's care, custody or property to give the agent. The power to consent to marriage or adoption cannot be given.[2]
This power of attorney form for a minor child has 44 fillable fields on three pages and takes about 10 minutes to complete. You name the parent, the child, the agent and a successor agent, choose the powers, set the dates and sign. The form also states that you do not intend to give up your parental rights.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Washington 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.
These short answers cover the time limit, the signing options and the powers a parent cannot give away. Each answer comes from the Revised Code of Washington, and the sources are listed at the end of the page.
A parent can delegate powers over the child for no more than 24 months, so the document cannot stay in effect longer than that. Pick an end date on the form that falls within that period.[2]
It needs a notary or witnesses. The parent must sign and date it, and the signature must be acknowledged before a notary public or another authorized officer, or attested by two or more qualified witnesses.[1]
A parent cannot delegate the power to consent to marriage or adoption. Other powers over the child's care, custody or property can be delegated.[2]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Revised Code of Washington.
