Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
How Rhode Island’s statute treats durability, statutory forms, real estate, and revocation — with the section each rule comes from.
- Not durable by default. In Rhode Island the document must say expressly that it survives incapacity — this template includes that language. — R.I. Gen. Laws §34-22-6.1 (P.L. 1983 ch. 322; amended 2000, 2005) ↗
- Statutory form. Rhode Island’s code includes an optional form (Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney, R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 (Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act)); banks are most familiar with it. — R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 (P.L. 1996, ch. 375) ↗
- Real estate. Yes — a POA used to execute a conveyance must be signed, acknowledged, delivered and recorded with the same formalities as a deed (R.I. Gen. Laws §34-11-34) — R.I. Gen. Laws §34-11-34 (G.L. 1956) ↗
Each point links to the Rhode Island source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Rhode Island signing rules · as of 2026
- Notarization
- Required
- Witnesses
- None required
- Official state form
- Yes
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 · 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island. It is revocable by me at any time while I have capacity.
Witness 1: __________________ Witness 2: __________________ (if required by Rhode Island)
State of Rhode Island, County of ____________ — acknowledged before me on ____________ by the above-named Agent.
Notary Public: __________________________ My commission expires: ____________
Generated with SealFormsReflects Rhode Island law · verified 2026
What a Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
A POA only works if institutions accept it, which is why the signing formalities matter. Get itnotarized, add witnesses if Rhode Island requires them, and check whether your state has a statutory form banks prefer. See the current Rhode Island power-of-attorney requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Rhode Island power of attorney have to be notarized?
Yes — in Rhode Island, a financial power of attorney must be notarized to be valid (as of 2026). Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2.
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 Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island?
No. In Rhode Island the document must state expressly that it survives incapacity — this template includes that language. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §34-22-6.1 (P.L. 1983 ch. 322; amended 2000, 2005).
Does Rhode Island have a statutory power of attorney form?
Yes — Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney, R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 (Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act). Banks and agencies are most familiar with it; the template here follows the same structure. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 (P.L. 1996, ch. 375).
How does Rhode Island compare? See the notary and witness rules in all 50 states, every rule cited to statute.
How Rhode Island compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §18-16-2 ↗.
- Rhode Island is one of 29 of 51 jurisdictions that require notarization (21 recommend (but do not require) notarization; 1 do not require notarization).
- Rhode Island is one of 35 of 51 jurisdictions that publish a statutory form in the code (16 have no statutory form).
- 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), Massachusetts (0).
Power of attorney in other states
More Rhode Island legal forms
Different state? See power of attorney by state →