Massachusetts Power of Attorney Form
Authorize someone you trust to act on your behalf. Fill in the details below and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup — but read the signing rules below, because a POA usually must be notarized.
Maintained by the SealForms editorial team · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Using a power of attorney in Massachusetts
How Massachusetts’s statute treats durability, statutory forms, real estate, and revocation — with the section each rule comes from.
- Not a uniform-act state. Massachusetts has its own power of attorney statute rather than the Uniform Power of Attorney Act — expect some differences from other states. — M.G.L. c. 190B, Art. V, Part 5, §§ 5-501 to 5-507 (Uniform Probate Code durable POA provisions, not the UPOAA) ↗
- Not durable by default. In Massachusetts the document must say expressly that it survives incapacity — this template includes that language. — M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-501(a) ↗
- Real estate. Statute addresses recording of the REVOCATION: for real-estate transactions, third parties are deemed to have actual knowledge of a revocation only if it is recorded under c. 184 § 25. No statute found requiring the POA itself to be recorded. — M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-504(c) ↗
- Revoking it. Revocation is not effective against an agent or third party acting in good faith without actual knowledge; third parties have knowledge only if the written revocation is actually received or, for real estate, recorded. — M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-504(c) ↗
Each point links to the Massachusetts source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Massachusetts signing rules · as of 2026
- Notarization
- Strongly recommended
- Witnesses
- None required
- Official state form
- No
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B §5-501/§5-502 · verify ↗. A POA gives real authority over your money — sign it before a notary (and witnesses where required), and take advice for high-value or health-care matters.
Live preview · updates as you type
Power of Attorney
State of Massachusetts
I, __________ ("Principal"), of __________ , appoint __________ ("Agent" / Attorney-in-Fact), of __________ , to act on my behalf.
Powers. I grant my Agent authority over the following: __________ . The Agent shall act in my best interest and keep records of actions taken.
Effective. This power of attorney takes effect on signing. Durability. Durable: __________. If "Yes" is written above, this power of attorney is DURABLE: it is not terminated by my subsequent incapacity. If "No" is written above, this power of attorney is NOT durable: it TERMINATES if I become incapacitated.
This document is governed by the laws of the State of Massachusetts. It is revocable by me at any time while I have capacity.
Witness 1: __________________ Witness 2: __________________ (if required by Massachusetts)
State of Massachusetts, County of ____________ — acknowledged before me on ____________ by the above-named Agent.
Notary Public: __________________________ My commission expires: ____________
Generated with SealFormsReflects Massachusetts law · verified 2026
What a Massachusetts power of attorney does
It lets your chosen agent step into your shoes for the tasks you allow — paying bills, managing bank accounts, handling real estate or taxes — which is invaluable if you travel, deploy, or want a plan in case of illness. You stay in control: you decide the powers, whether it’s durable, and you can revoke it anytime.
Signing it correctly in Massachusetts
A POA only works if institutions accept it, which is why the signing formalities matter. Get itnotarized, add witnesses if Massachusetts requires them, and check whether your state has a statutory form banks prefer. See the current Massachusetts power-of-attorney requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Massachusetts power of attorney have to be notarized?
In Massachusetts, notarization is not strictly required by statute but is strongly recommended — banks and other institutions almost always expect a notarized POA, so notarize it anyway (as of 2026). Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B §5-501/§5-502.
What is a durable power of attorney?
A “durable” power of attorney stays in effect even if you later become incapacitated — which is usually the point of having one. A non-durable POA ends if you lose capacity. Set “durable” in the form to keep the agent’s authority in place; this is the more common choice for planning ahead.
What powers can I give my agent?
You can grant broad authority (banking, real estate, bills, taxes, insurance) or limit it to specific tasks. List exactly what you want your agent to handle in the “powers” field. Some acts (like real estate) may need extra formalities to be recorded in Massachusetts.
Can I revoke it later?
Yes. You can revoke a power of attorney at any time while you have capacity by notifying your agent in writing (and any institution relying on it). Keep the signed original safe and give copies only to those who need them.
Is a power of attorney durable by default in Massachusetts?
No. In Massachusetts the document must state expressly that it survives incapacity — this template includes that language. Source: M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-501(a).
How do I revoke a power of attorney in Massachusetts?
Revocation is not effective against an agent or third party acting in good faith without actual knowledge; third parties have knowledge only if the written revocation is actually received or, for real estate, recorded. Source: M.G.L. c. 190B § 5-504(c).
How does Massachusetts compare? See the notary and witness rules in all 50 states, every rule cited to statute.
How Massachusetts compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 190B §5-501/§5-502 ↗.
- Massachusetts is one of 21 of 51 jurisdictions that recommend (but do not require) notarization (29 require notarization; 1 do not require notarization).
- Massachusetts is one of 16 of 51 jurisdictions that have no statutory form (35 publish a statutory form in the code).
- Witnesses required
Witnesses required: 0, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 40 other states.
Witnesses required in neighboring states — Connecticut (2), New Hampshire (0), New York (2), Rhode Island (0), Vermont (0).
Power of attorney in other states
More Massachusetts legal forms
Different state? See power of attorney by state →