Revised New York Power of Attorney Law

New York has significantly revised its power of attorney law. The revised law contains a new power of attorney form, called the statutory form. The law continues to permit other power of attorney forms, but it has become apparent that almost everyone uses the statutory form. We've concluded that it's better for our customers to use the statutory form, because it is widely accepted and familiar to banks and other institutions. So Quicken WillMaker Plus now produces the statutory form for New York users. 

The new law does not affect the legality of any existing power of attorney. So if you currently have a valid power of attorney, its validity has not changed. However, because the new statutory form has become the norm in New York, you may want to update your power of attorney to the more familiar form. To do that, use the updated version of Quicken WillMaker Plus (available through web update) or see a lawyer for help.

You can find examples of the statutory form on the website of the New York State Bar Association. However, this form does not come with explicit directions about how to fill it out it, so to complete it, get help from a legal professional. You can read the text of the revised statute at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us.