Power of Attorney Requirements in Illinois
Illinois powers of attorney for property made on the statutory short form must be signed in front of one qualified adult witness and notarized.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Illinois at a glance
- Notarization
- Required
- Witnesses
- 1 witness
- In addition to the notary
- Uniform Power of Attorney Act
- Not adopted
- Illinois uses its own statute
Sources
- 755 ILCS 45/3-3, Statutory short form power of attorney for property (FindLaw)
- Illinois Legal Aid Online, How to set up a power of attorney for property
- Illinois Compiled Statutes ch. 755 index, Act 45 Illinois Power of Attorney Act (FindLaw)
- Uniform Law Commission, Power of Attorney Act enactment map
Last checked
The rules in Illinois
Does a power of attorney need to be notarized in Illinois?
Illinois requires a power of attorney to be acknowledged before a notary and signed in front of one witness.
How many witnesses does a power of attorney need in Illinois?
One, in addition to the notary.
Has Illinois adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act?
No. Illinois has its own power of attorney statute rather than the Uniform Power of Attorney Act.
Where do the Illinois rules for powers of attorney come from?
They come from 755 ILCS 45/3-3, Statutory short form power of attorney for property, Illinois Legal Aid Online, How to set up a power of attorney for property, Illinois Compiled Statutes ch. 755 index, Act 45 Illinois Power of Attorney Act and 1 other source. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Illinois compares
Illinois 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.