Power of Attorney in Michigan
State-specific overview · Estate & Probate
Michigan requires specific statutory language and notarization for durable powers of attorney to be valid.
How Michigan treats Power of Attorney
Michigan adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act and requires that durable powers of attorney include specific statutory language indicating the principal's intent for durability. The document must be notarized to be effective. Michigan recognizes both financial and healthcare powers of attorney, though healthcare decisions are often handled through separate healthcare power of attorney documents. The state also allows springing powers of attorney that become effective only upon a specified event, such as incapacity.
The general definition of Power of Attorney
A legal document authorizing someone to act on your behalf in financial or medical decisions.
A power of attorney is a document you sign giving another person (called an agent or attorney-in-fact) the authority to make decisions and sign documents for you. You can make it broad (covering all financial matters) or narrow (only for selling a specific property). It takes effect immediately or only if you become incapacitated, depending on what you choose.
Read the full Power of Attorney entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Michigan.