Notarize a Power of Attorney Online
In most states a power of attorney must be signed in front of a notary — and where it is, you can usually do that online (some states let you use witnesses instead). The notary confirms your identity, watches you sign on live video, and attaches an acknowledgment certificate. With USA Notary it costs $25, takes about 15–30 minutes, and works in all 50 states, 24/7.
Last updated: July 15, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Can you notarize a power of attorney online?
Yes — in most states you can notarize a power of attorney online through remote online notarization (RON). A commissioned notary meets you over a live, recorded video call, verifies your identity, watches you sign electronically, and attaches a notarial certificate. The signature the notary witnesses is the same acknowledgment a traditional notary would take at a desk.
Whether online notarization is available for your document turns on your state's law, not on the POA itself. Before you start, check whether online notarization is legal in your state, then see how the video session works. A power of attorney is one of the most common documents handled as general notary work.
Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?
It depends on your state and your document. Some states require a POA to be acknowledged before a notary before it is valid; others accept a notary or witnesses; a few call for both. The two confirmed examples below show the range. Because requirements differ by state, a notary cannot tell you whether your document must be notarized — that is a legal question for you or your attorney.
| State | What makes the POA validly executed | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| California | Legally sufficient if it is acknowledged before a notary public OR signed by at least two witnesses — the signer's choice. | Cal. Probate Code §4121 |
| Maine | Not valid unless acknowledged before a notary public — the statute reads "A power of attorney under this Part is not valid unless it is acknowledged before a notary public." | Me. 18-C M.R.S. §5-905 |
| Your state | Rules vary. Confirm your state's execution requirement (notary, witnesses, or both) with your state statute or an attorney before signing. | |
Even where witnesses are an alternative, notarization carries a practical advantage: under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a signature is presumed genuine when it is acknowledged before a notary public (UPOAA §105). That presumption is why banks, courts, and county recorders so often ask for a notarized POA.
Notary vs. witnesses vs. both
States fall into a few patterns for how a power of attorney must be executed. The National Notary Association notes plainly that "different states have different witness requirements." Using the two confirmed examples above:
- Notary required. Maine treats notarization as mandatory — a POA "is not valid unless it is acknowledged before a notary public" (18-C M.R.S. §5-905).
- Notary or witnesses. California lets the signer choose: acknowledged before a notary or signed by two qualifying witnesses (Probate Code §4121).
- Both, in some states or on some forms. Where a form provides a witness block in addition to a notary block, the NNA advises that witnesses should be used and that it is the signer's responsibility to provide them.
A practical note for online sessions: even when your state allows witnesses instead of a notary, choosing notarization keeps the process simple — one commissioned officer, one recorded session, and the presumption-of-genuineness advantage above. If your form also needs witnesses, tell the platform before you begin so the session can be set up correctly.
General vs. limited vs. durable vs. springing
"Power of attorney" is a family of documents. Which one you have affects how long it lasts and when it takes effect — not, by itself, whether it needs notarizing. Here is a quick reference, followed by the details.
| Type | What it covers | When it ends / begins |
|---|---|---|
| General | Broad authority over the principal's financial and legal affairs. | On revocation, an expiry date, or — unless it is durable — the principal's incapacity. |
| Limited (special) | One specific task or transaction — e.g., selling a single property. | When the task is done or the stated date passes. |
| Durable | Any authority the principal grants, drafted to survive incapacity. | Continues through incapacity; ends at death or revocation. Durable by default under UPOAA §104. |
| Springing | Authority that stays dormant until a trigger. | Takes effect on a future date or event (often the principal's incapacity), per UPOAA §109. |
General power of attorney
A general POA gives the agent broad authority to act for the principal across financial and legal matters. Unless it is also drafted as durable, a general POA ends if the principal loses capacity.
Limited (special) power of attorney
A limited POA narrows the authority to a single task or window — signing for one closing, managing one account, or handling a specific transaction while the principal is unavailable. When a limited POA is used to sign for a buyer or seller at a property closing, it runs through real estate notarization.
Durable power of attorney
A durable POA is written to remain effective even if the principal becomes incapacitated. Under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a POA "created under this act is durable unless it expressly provides that it is terminated by the incapacity of the principal" (UPOAA §104) — so in states that have adopted the UPOAA, durability is the default rather than something you have to add. States that have not adopted the UPOAA may follow the older default, so check your state.
Springing power of attorney
A springing POA takes effect only when a stated event occurs. The UPOAA says a power of attorney "is effective when executed unless the principal provides in the power of attorney that it becomes effective at a future date or upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency" (UPOAA §109). The signing and notarization still happen up front; only the agent's authority waits for the trigger.
Which notarial act a power of attorney uses
A power of attorney is almost always notarized with an acknowledgment, not a jurat. In an acknowledgment, the principal declares to the notary that they signed the document willingly; the Uniform Power of Attorney Act builds on exactly this act when it says a signature "is presumed to be genuine if the principal acknowledges the signature before a notary public" (UPOAA §105).
That is different from a sworn affidavit, which instead needs a jurat — a jurat requires you to swear or affirm that the contents are true, whereas an acknowledgment only confirms that the signature is yours. A power of attorney is a grant of authority, not a sworn statement, so an acknowledgment is the fit.
One caveat: the notary cannot choose the act for you. If your document's certificate wording does not specify acknowledgment or jurat, the signer — not the notary — has to say which act is required, because selecting it for you would cross into legal advice.
Who signs, who notarizes, and who can't
Only the principal — the person granting authority — signs and is notarized on a power of attorney. The person receiving authority is the agent, also called the attorney-in-fact; the Uniform Power of Attorney Act defines an agent as "a person granted authority to act for a principal under a power of attorney, whether denominated an agent, attorney-in-fact, or otherwise" (UPOAA §102(1)). The agent does not need to appear at the signing.
- The principal appears before the notary, proves identity, and signs. This is who the notarization is performed on.
- The notary verifies identity, takes the acknowledgment, and completes the certificate — a ministerial role, not a legal-advice role.
- Who can't: the notary cannot tell you whether you need a POA, which type to use, or whether notarization is required. Those are legal questions. The NNA's own hotline answers point signers to "a qualified attorney" for exactly these questions.
A notary also should not proceed if the principal appears confused, coerced, or unable to understand the document. Notarizing a POA is about confirming identity and a willing signature — it is not a judgment that the document itself is a good idea.
Will banks, title companies, and hospitals accept an online-notarized POA?
Often, but it is not guaranteed — and no notary or platform can promise it. Acceptance depends on two separate things:
- Is the notarization legally valid? That turns on the remote online notarization law of the state where the notary is commissioned, and on your own state's rules — whether online notarization is legal in your state is the first thing to confirm.
- Will the receiving institution accept it? Banks, title companies, and hospitals each set their own internal policies. Some accept any properly notarized POA; others require their own form, a "wet" ink signature, or a POA executed within a certain time frame.
The notarization gives your POA a strong evidentiary footing — an acknowledged signature is presumed genuine under UPOAA §105 — but that is different from a specific institution being obligated to honor it.
The practical move: before you rely on the POA, ask the bank, title company, or hospital exactly what they require, and confirm they accept a remotely notarized document. Handling POAs at volume for a lender or institution? See how we work with financial institutions.
How online POA notarization works & cost
| Cost | one flat $25 fee per document — includes ID verification, the electronic notarial seal, a tamper-evident certificate, and instant digital delivery |
|---|---|
| Time | Most sessions take 15–30 minutes from start to finish |
| Availability | 24/7, to signers in all 50 states |
| What you need | A valid government-issued photo ID, a device with a camera and microphone, and your power of attorney document |
- 1
Upload your power of attorney and start a session — no appointment or travel needed.
- 2
Verify your identity with a government-issued ID and knowledge-based questions.
- 3
Meet a commissioned notary over a live, recorded video session and sign electronically as the principal.
- 4
The notary applies the electronic seal and acknowledgment certificate, and you download the finished POA right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you notarize a power of attorney online?
In most states, yes. A commissioned remote online notary confirms your identity, watches you sign over live video, and attaches an acknowledgment certificate. On USA Notary it costs $25, takes about 15–30 minutes, and is available 24/7 to signers in all 50 states. Whether your state authorizes remote online notarization depends on its own law.
Does a power of attorney need to be notarized?
It depends on your state and your document. Some states require a POA to be acknowledged before a notary — Maine, for example, says a power of attorney is not valid unless acknowledged before a notary public (18-C M.R.S. §5-905). Others, like California, let you choose: a POA is legally sufficient if it is acknowledged before a notary OR signed by two witnesses (Probate Code §4121).
Who can notarize a power of attorney?
Any commissioned notary public authorized to take acknowledgments can notarize a power of attorney. For online sessions, the notary must hold a remote online notarization commission in a state that permits it. A notary cannot advise you on whether your document needs notarizing or which notarial act to use — that would be the unauthorized practice of law.
What is the difference between a general, limited, durable, and springing power of attorney?
A general POA grants broad authority; a limited (special) POA covers one task; a durable POA stays in effect if the principal becomes incapacitated; and a springing POA takes effect only on a future date or event. In states that have adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a POA is durable by default unless it says otherwise (§104).
Which notarial act does a power of attorney use?
A power of attorney is almost always notarized with an acknowledgment — the principal acknowledges to the notary that they signed it. In states that have adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a signature is presumed genuine when acknowledged before a notary (§105). A sworn affidavit, by contrast, uses a jurat, which requires an oath.
Will a bank or title company accept an online-notarized power of attorney?
Acceptance is not guaranteed. It depends on two things: whether the notarization is valid under the state's remote online notarization law, and the receiving institution's own policy. Many banks and title companies accept properly notarized POAs, but some require their own forms. Confirm with the institution before you rely on the document.
How much does it cost to notarize a power of attorney online?
USA Notary charges one flat $25 fee per document, with ID verification, the electronic notarial seal, a tamper-evident certificate, and instant digital delivery all included. Sessions run 24/7 and typically take 15–30 minutes.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
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