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Power of Attorney Requirements in the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia requires a power of attorney to be signed by the principal and acknowledged before a notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments; no witnesses are required.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

District of Columbia at a glance

Notarization
Required
Witnesses
None
Uniform Power of Attorney Act
Adopted (2023)

Sources

Last checked

The rules in District of Columbia

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized in the District of Columbia?

District of Columbia requires a power of attorney to be acknowledged before a notary.

How many witnesses does a power of attorney need in the District of Columbia?

None. District of Columbia does not require witnesses for a power of attorney, but it does require notarization.

Has District of Columbia adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act?

Yes. The Uniform Law Commission lists the enactment in 2023.

Where do the District of Columbia rules for powers of attorney come from?

They come from D.C. Code 21-2601.05, D.C. Code 21-2601.01 short title, D.C. Law 24-236, Uniform Power of Attorney Amendment Act of 2022 and 1 other source. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

How District of Columbia compares

District of Columbia is one of 24 jurisdictions that require notarization.

What this means in practice

Even where notarization is optional, banks, brokers and title companies often ask for a notarized power of attorney before they act on it. Notarizing is usually the safer choice.

Choose an agent you trust, name a backup, and give the agent a signed copy. Keep the original in a place your agent can reach.

You can revoke a power of attorney while you have capacity. Tell your agent and anyone who relied on it, in writing.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.