20 Pa. C.S. § 5602

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 5602 - Form of power of attorney
(a) Specification of powers.--A principal may, by inclusion of the language quoted in any of the following paragraphs or by inclusion of other language showing a similar intent on the part of the principal, empower an agent to do any or all of the following, each of which is defined in section 5603 (relating to implementation of power of attorney):
(1)[Repealed by 2016 Amendment.]
(2) "To create a trust for my benefit."
(3) "To make additions to an existing trust for my benefit."
(4) "To claim an elective share of the estate of my deceased spouse."
(5)[Deleted by 2014 Amendment.]
(6) "To renounce fiduciary positions."
(7) "To withdraw and receive the income or corpus of a trust."
(8) [Repealed by 2016 Amendment.]
(9) [Repealed by 2016 Amendment.]
(10) "To engage in real property transactions."
(11) "To engage in tangible personal property transactions."
(12) "To engage in stock, bond and other securities transactions."
(13) "To engage in commodity and option transactions."
(14) "To engage in banking and financial transactions."
(15) "To borrow money."
(16) "To enter safe deposit boxes."
(17)"To engage in insurance and annuity transactions".
(18) "To engage in retirement plan transactions."
(19) "To handle interests in estates and trusts."
(20) "To pursue claims and litigation."
(21) "To receive government benefits."
(22) "To pursue tax matters."
(23) [Repealed by 2016 Amendment.]
(24) "To operate a business or entity."
(25) "To provide for personal and family maintenance."
(a.1)Modification of authority.--A principal may modify the authority of an agent that is incorporated by reference as described in subsection (a).
(b) Appointment of agent and successor agent.--A principal may provide for:
(1) The appointment of more than one agent, who shall act jointly, severally or in any other combination that the principal may designate, but if there is no such designation, such agents shall only act jointly.
(1.1) The delegation of one or more powers by the agent to such person or persons as the agent may designate and on terms as the power of attorney may specify.
(2) The appointment of one or more successor agents who shall serve in the order named in the power of attorney, unless the principal expressly directs to the contrary.
(3) The delegation to an original or successor agent of the power to appoint his successor or successors.
(c) Filing and recording of power of attorney.--An originally executed copy of the power of attorney may be filed with the clerk of the orphans' court division of the court of common pleas in the county in which the principal resides, and if it is acknowledged, it may be recorded in the office for the recording of deeds of the county of the principal's residence and of each county in which real property to be affected by an exercise of the power is located. A power of attorney executed in electronic form may be recorded in the same manner as a document subject to the Act of July 5, 2012 (P.L.935, No.100), known as The Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. The clerk of the orphans' court division or any office for the recording of deeds with whom the power has been filed, may, upon request, issue certified copies of the power of attorney. Each such certified copy shall have the same validity and the same force and effect as if it were the original, and it may be filed of record in any other office of this Commonwealth (including, without limitation, the clerk of the orphans' court division or the office for the recording of deeds) as if it were the original.
(d)Copy of power of attorney.--Except for the purpose of filing or recording under subsection (c), a photocopy or electronically transmitted copy of an originally executed power of attorney has the same effect as the original.

20 Pa.C.S. § 5602

Amended by P.L. TBD 2016 No. 79, § 6.2, eff. 1/1/2017.
Amended by P.L. 855 2014 No. 95, § 4, eff. 1/1/2015.
1982 , Feb. 18, P.L. 45, No. 26, § 9, imd. effective. Amended 1992, Dec. 16, P.L. 1163, No. 152, §14, imd. effective; 1994, Dec. 1, P.L. 655, No. 102, § 4, effective in 90 days; 1999, Oct. 12, P.L. 422, No. 39, § 10, effective in 60 days.