Section 1044b - Military powers of attorney: requirement for recognition by States(a) INSTRUMENTS TO BE GIVEN LEGAL EFFECT WITHOUT REGARD TO STATE LAW.-A military power of attorney-(1) is exempt from any requirement of form, substance, formality, or recording that is provided for powers of attorney under the laws of a State; and(2) shall be given the same legal effect as a power of attorney prepared and executed in accordance with the laws of the State concerned.(b) MILITARY POWER OF ATTORNEY.-For purposes of this section, a military power of attorney is any general or special power of attorney that is notarized in accordance with section 1044a of this title or other applicable State or Federal law.(c) STATEMENT TO BE INCLUDED.-(1) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, each military power of attorney shall contain a statement that sets forth the provisions of subsection (a).(2) Paragraph (1) shall not be construed to make inapplicable the provisions of subsection (a) to a military power of attorney that does not include a statement described in that paragraph.(d) STATE DEFINED.-In this section, the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a possession of the United States.Added Pub. L. 103-160, div. A, title V, §574(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1674. - includes
- "includes" means "includes but is not limited to"; and
- Secretary concerned
- The term "Secretary concerned" means-(A) the Secretary of the Army, with respect to matters concerning the Army;(B) the Secretary of the Navy, with respect to matters concerning the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard when it is operating as a service in the Department of the Navy;(C) the Secretary of the Air Force, with respect to matters concerning the Air Force and the Space Force; and(D) the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to matters concerning the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy.