Revocation of Power of Attorney
A formal document revoking a previously granted power of attorney, effective upon delivery to the attorney and relevant institutions.
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A revocation of power of attorney is a formal legal document by which a person (the donor) cancels a previously granted power of attorney and withdraws all authority given to the named attorney. A power of attorney remains valid and in effect until it is formally revoked, the donor dies or loses capacity (for non-continuing powers), or a court order terminates it.
How to revoke effectively
Signing a revocation document is only the first step. To be effective, the revocation must be communicated to the attorney and to all third parties who have been acting on the attorney's authority — including banks, investment firms, government agencies, and anyone else who has relied on the original power of attorney. Until notified, third parties who act in good faith on the original document may not be liable.
Important timing note
If the original power of attorney was registered (for example, on title to real property), the revocation may also need to be registered. Where the attorney has been acting under a continuing power of attorney, additional steps — including notifying financial institutions in writing — are necessary to effectively terminate the authority.