If you regret your current power of attorney arrangement, don’t worry: you can still edit or revoke it. In this post, we’ll show you when to revoke a PoA, how you can do this, and what to look for in a new agent.
Can You Revoke a Power of Attorney?
Absolutely, and you won’t even need your original agent’s permission. You can simply download a printable revocation of power of attorney form PDF from a legal template website. You’ll even be able to customize it.
You don’t need a formal reason to revoke one; you can do this even if your current arrangement simply doesn’t feel right. Do this sooner rather than later, or you may end up at the mercy of the original document.
Reasons to Change or Revoke a Power of Attorney
Always look for signs that your current PoA setup isn’t right, as these documents ultimately have to serve your interests. If you don’t have faith in your power of attorney, it shouldn’t be active.
Here are six reasons you might want to reconsider your current PoA plans:
1. No Trust in Agent
You might no longer be comfortable with who you’ve chosen to manage your affairs. They might be an ex-partner, for example, or a friend you don’t talk to anymore. You’ll need to make a new PoA with an agent you trust completely.
2. Different Beliefs
Everyone’s beliefs and opinions are always changing, and an outdated PoA could mean signing up to transactions or operations you no longer agree with. Think about how you’ve changed and make sure you have a PoA that fits who you are today.
3. Unavailable Agent
Even if you know your agent would make the right choice, they may move away. PoAs generally work between states, but you’ll need someone close to fight on your behalf. Consider making a new document and naming a more readily available agent.
4. Conflict of Interest
Your agent’s circumstances might change, and you may worry that they’d have a vested interest in controlling your medical or financial affairs. If you have even the faintest doubt about an agent and their reliability, change your power of attorney immediately.
5. Major Life Changes
Even if your beliefs stay the same, your life could massively change; for example, you might get married or have a child. This could affect the medical treatments you’re okay with and how you’d want an agent to use your finances.
6. No Successor Agent
You might realize that your existing arrangement doesn’t name a backup agent in case your first choice backs out or isn’t available. Make a new power of attorney right away — even if you keep the same agent, you need a backup just in case.
Steps for Replacing a Power of Attorney
Replacing your PoA isn’t as easy as just making a new one, especially if there are copies of the original in the wild. The steps you’ll need to take are as follows:
- Find a revocation of power of attorney form, fill it in, and download it
- Involve a notary public (and two witnesses, depending on your state)
- Destroy any copies you have of the previous power of attorney form
- Contact and inform the agent, and ask them to destroy their copies
- Use a document template site to get a new custom power of attorney
- Get your new — or the same — agent to sign the new document
- Keep the new power of attorney safe and secure until you need it
Once you have a new power of attorney form, you can rest easy knowing that the original won’t take control of your healthcare and finances away.
Choosing a New Agent
Getting a new PoA often involves changing who’ll serve as your agent. It’s hard to guarantee an agent won’t go against your interests when it’s time to make hard decisions, but you can still set yourself up for success. Here are our tips for picking a great agent:
- Don’t default to your closest family members; they might struggle with hard choices
- When giving away financial powers, pick someone who’s good at managing money
- Similarly, for healthcare powers, opt for a compassionate and patient communicator
- Be careful about picking someone who stands to gain financially from being chosen
- Make sure they’re likely to be available at a moment’s notice during an emergency
- Share your health wishes with loved ones and note how they react before choosing
- Consider naming “co-agents” with joint powers, and always add a successor agent
If you have second thoughts about your new agent, you can always revoke your PoA again.
Final Thoughts
Giving someone power over your health and accounts is a big deal, and you shouldn’t be stuck in an uncomfortable arrangement. With a revocation form, however, you could take back control and build a new PoA that better fits you.
