Banks and hospitals both want proof before they let someone else act for you.
Lumr’s Colorado power of attorney template walks you through each choice, from the type of authority to your agent’s name, and produces a document ready for signing. Simply download the finished PDF.
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What Is a Power of Attorney in Colorado?
A power of attorney (POA) is a written grant of authority that lets your agent act in your place.
You are the principal, and the law counts any writing that grants such authority as a POA, even if it doesn’t use that phrase. The state adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act in 2009, which governs documents created on or after January 1, 2010.
The rules sit in Part 7 of Article 14 of the Probate Code (C.R.S. § 15-14-701 and following). Medical documents fall under the Colorado Patient Autonomy Act.
Colorado Power of Attorney Requirements
The statute doesn’t ask for witnesses on a financial POA (§ 15-14-705).
Choose your agent carefully, because a person who acts under the document accepts the role and takes on duties to you.
How you sign depends on the document. Here’s a breakdown:
Document
Signature rule
Extra step
Financial (general, durable, limited)
You sign, or direct another person to sign your name while you watch
A notary is optional
Medical
You sign a writing that names your agent
None set by statute
Real estate
Same as financial
Notarize it and record it with the county clerk and recorder
Vehicle
You sign the DMV’s form
The form includes a notary block and needs an end date
Minor child
You sign a POA naming the adult
Runs no longer than 12 months
Types of Power of Attorney in Colorado
There are eight main types you can create (the next sections detail the ones most people need):
General: Puts an agent in charge of most financial matters
Medical: Names the person who decides about treatment when you cannot
Durable: Stays in force after you become incapacitated
Limited: Applies to one purpose or a set period
Minor child: Lets another adult look after your child for a while
Springing: Begins on a future date or after an event you name
Real estate: Covers selling or leasing land.
DMV: Lets an agent handle the title or registration of a single vehicle
General Power of Attorney in Colorado
A general POA gives your agent wide control over money matters, from paying bills to selling property. It takes effect on signing unless you choose a later date or event (§ 15-14-709).
Because the state treats every new POA as durable, a general power of attorney remains effective during incapacity unless the text says otherwise.
Many people use it as their financial power of attorney form, since one document replaces a stack of single-purpose ones. Your agent must act in good faith, stay loyal to you, avoid conflicts of interest, and keep records.
A medical power of attorney names an agent to consent to or refuse treatment, including artificial nutrition and hydration, if you lose decision-making capacity.
The agent follows your written wishes, or acts in your best interests if you have none. Your own objection to a treatment decision overrides the agent’s.
A divorce or legal separation ends a spouse’s appointment as agent unless the document says otherwise. The rest of the document stays in force.
The state treats every POA signed on or after January 1, 2010 as durable, unless the document states that incapacity ends it (§ 15-14-704).
The law defines incapacity broadly. It covers an impairment in handling information or decisions, and it applies when a principal is missing or detained. Authority continues until your death, revocation or the end date you choose.
A springing POA waits for a trigger you name.
If you do not name someone to confirm it, a physician or licensed psychologist, or an attorney, judge, or government official, can certify your incapacity in writing.
A limited POA grants authority for one purpose and ends when that purpose is complete.
The DMV’s Form DR 2175 shows this in action: you check only the vehicle powers you want to grant. It requires a termination date, and a transfer of ownership needs the original, not a copy.
For a valid, limited power of attorney in Colorado, name the task and the dates clearly. Anything you leave off the list stays with you.
The state lets a parent or guardian delegate authority over a child’s care or property to another adult for up to 12 months (§ 15-14-105). The parent retains the power to consent to marriage or adoption.
A Colorado power of attorney for a minor child suits situations like a military deployment or a parent’s extended hospital stay. Name each power the adult receives, and prepare a new document before the year ends.
Creating a Colorado power of attorney form with Lumr takes only five steps:
1
Select the Authority You Need
Pick the type that fits the job, such as general, medical, durable, limited, or minor child.
2
Name Your Agent
Enter your details as principal, then add your agent and an alternate who can step in.
3
Choose the Powers and Dates
Check the powers the agent should hold, then set a start date and any end date.
4
Review and Download
Read the finished Colorado POA form for typos in names or dates, then download the PDF.
5
Sign and Share Copies
Sign the printout, and have it notarized and recorded with the county recorder's office for real estate. Give copies to your agent.
FAQ
FAQs About Power of Attorney in Colorado
Many people have questions about POA requirements. Find the answers you need below:
How do I revoke a power of attorney in Colorado?
Give your agent a signed, written notice revoking the entire POA or just their authority. A new POA does not automatically cancel the old one.
Notify institutions holding the POA, as banks may rely on it without knowing it was revoked.
Filing for divorce or legal separation ends a spouse-agent’s authority, unless the POA says otherwise.
How do you sign a power of attorney in Colorado?
Sign the principal’s name, then add “by” and your own name and title, such as “Dana Reed, by Sam Reed, agent.”
That format shows the bank or office that you act under authority, not for yourself. Keep records of every transaction, since agents must track receipts and disbursements.
Does a Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Colorado?
No, but the law presumes an acknowledged signature is genuine.
A bank must accept an acknowledged POA within seven business days or request a certification or legal opinion instead. A court can order a bank to comply and award fees if it refuses without a valid reason.
Does a Colorado Power of Attorney require witnesses?
No. A financial POA requires no witnesses, and the state’s statutory form includes a notary block but no witness lines. A living will is a different document and requires two witnesses.
Does a Power of Attorney need to be recorded in Colorado?
Only for real estate. When an agent signs a conveyance for you, the agent must record the acknowledged POA in the same office as the deed.
No other type goes to the recorder, so keep those with your agent.
When does a Power of Attorney terminate in Colorado?
A POA ends on your death, revocation or the end date or event the document names. It also ends when its stated purpose is complete.
Incapacity ends it only if the document is expressly non-durable.
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