Minnesota is one of the states with an official statutory short-form Power of Attorney, set out in Minnesota Statutes chapter 523. Using the statutory form means banks and institutions recognize it, which cuts down on the “we don’t accept this” headaches. Here’s a plain-English tour of how it works.
The parts of the Minnesota form
The statutory short form walks through a handful of decisions:
- The principal and the attorney-in-fact (agent). Who is granting authority, and who receives it.
- A successor agent (optional but wise). A backup who steps in if your first choice can’t serve — see our guide on the successor agent role.
- The list of powers. You initial the categories of authority you want to grant — real estate, banking, benefits, and more.
- Whether it’s durable. Minnesota’s form lets you make the authority continue even if you later become incapacitated — usually the goal for planning ahead.
- Gifting and other sensitive powers. Certain high-impact powers must be expressly granted; don’t assume they’re included.
Signing it
The principal signs, and the form is notarized. Read every section before initialing — the powers you grant (and the ones you leave out) define exactly what your agent can do.
Get it right the first time
Because this is Minnesota-specific, our Minnesota power-of-attorney overview and the Minnesota POA Handbook walk through the actual form, section by section, with the context behind each choice. For anything beyond the basics, an estate-planning or elder-law attorney is worth the visit.
_This article is plain-English education, not legal advice. Power of Attorney law varies by state, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. For guidance on your specific situation, talk with a licensed attorney in your state._