General Power of Attorney — Word & PDF Template

This general power of attorney template lets a person (the donor) appoint an attorney to act on their behalf in financial and property matters. It sets out the scope of authority, any exclusions, the duration and how the power can be revoked, for individuals in England and Wales who need a clear document for short-term or specific authority. It must be signed as a deed in front of a witness, who should not be the attorney.

Who is this template for?

It suits individuals who need someone to handle their financial affairs temporarily — for example while abroad, in hospital or otherwise unavailable — and anyone appointing a trusted attorney for a defined purpose. Note that a general power of attorney does not continue if the donor loses mental capacity; a lasting power of attorney is needed for that.

What does the template include?

The document is built from numbered sections:

• Important Notice — that this is a temporary power that ends automatically if the donor loses mental capacity, is signed as a deed with a witness, needs no registration with the Office of the Public Guardian, and may need lodging at HM Land Registry for dealings with registered land.
• The Donor — identifies the person granting the power.
• The Attorney — identifies the person appointed to act.
• Scope of Authority — tick box for a general authority over financial and property affairs, or specific matters only.
• Specific Exclusions — matters the attorney may not deal with.
• Duration — continues until revoked, or ends on an expiry date you choose.
• Attorney’s Obligations — the attorney’s duties and standard of care.
• Revocation — how the donor can revoke the power.
• Third Parties — reliance by banks and others on the power.
• Governing Law — confirms England and Wales law applies.
• Execution — signed as a deed by the donor in front of a witness.

Easy to customise

The template opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs and LibreOffice. Fill in the highlighted fields, set the scope and any exclusions, tick the relevant options and edit any clause to suit your needs.

Format and scope

Download instantly as an editable Word (.docx) file and a PDF, formatted to A4. Written in plain British English with light, general references to England and Wales law on powers of attorney.