Alaska Power of Attorney Requirements
Alaska’s Power of Attorney law (AS 13.26.600 to 13.26.695) includes a statutory form and sets how a Power of Attorney is signed, when it continues through incapacity, and what an agent must do. One Alaska rule surprises many families: a Power of Attorney is not durable unless it says so. Here are the essentials in plain English, each linked to the official Alaska Statutes.
Based on Alaska Statutes AS 13.26.600 – 13.26.695 (Powers of Attorney). Reviewed October 2026. Education, not legal advice — Alaska’s requirements are set by state law and can change, so confirm them with an official Alaska source or a licensed attorney.
Preparing to serve—or already serving—in Alaska?
The National Handbook explains the responsibilities. The National Workbook helps you organize the work. Use the Alaska information below to explore requirements, official sources, and available resources.
Requirements depend on your documents and applicable law. Confirm current information with official sources or a qualified professional in your state.
Where is Alaska’s Power of Attorney law?
Alaska’s financial Power of Attorney law is AS 13.26.600 to 13.26.695. It includes a statutory General Power of Attorney form (AS 13.26.645), and the Alaska Court System’s self-help center explains Powers of Attorney.
AS 13.26.600 – 13.26.695 ↗Alaska Court System Self-Help: Powers of Attorney ↗
Does an Alaska Power of Attorney have to be notarized?
Yes. Under AS 13.26.600, the principal signs the Power of Attorney (or, if physically unable, directs another person to sign in the principal’s conscious presence) and acknowledges the signature before a notary public or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments.
Is an Alaska Power of Attorney durable?
Only if it says so. Under AS 13.26.675, the agent’s authority continues through the principal’s incapacity only if the document contains words such as “This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent incapacity of the principal,” or substantially similar words.
What does an Alaska agent have to do?
Under AS 13.26.610, an agent must act according to the principal’s reasonable expectations (or best interest), in good faith, and only within the authority granted. Unless the document says otherwise, the agent must also act loyally, avoid conflicts of interest and keep a record of all receipts, disbursements and transactions. The principal, a guardian, a conservator and certain others can request disclosure.
How is an Alaska advance health care directive signed?
Healthcare decisions are covered by an advance health care directive under the Alaska Health Care Decisions Act (AS 13.52). Under AS 13.52.010, it is signed and dated, then either signed by two witnesses personally known to the principal or acknowledged before a notary public in Alaska. A witness may not be the agent or certain healthcare employees, and at least one witness must be unrelated to the principal and not entitled to any part of the estate. An optional form is in AS 13.52.300.
This summary is educational and may not reflect the most current law — verify against the current statutes or with a Alaska attorney before relying on it.
The universal rules of the role
The exact forms, witnessing, and notarization rules change from state to state — those are in Alaska’s essentials above.But the heart of the role is the same everywhere in the U.S. Here’s what always applies.
Your duties as an agent
Every decision is for the principal, never for you. This is the core legal duty of an agent, everywhere.
Never mix the principal’s funds with your own. Use their accounts for their expenses, and don’t borrow or lend to yourself.
Track every transaction, receipt, and major decision. Good records protect the principal — and protect you if anyone ever asks.
You can only do what the Power of Attorney actually authorizes. If it isn’t granted in the document, you don’t have the authority.
Follow what they’d want, preserve their existing estate plan where you can, and avoid anything that benefits you at their expense.
What a Power of Attorney can’t do
A Power of Attorney works only while the principal is alive. The moment they pass, it ends and the will and executor (or trustee) take over.
An agent cannot make or rewrite the principal’s will, and generally can’t change beneficiary designations unless the document specifically allows it.
Powers not written into the document — like making gifts or changing accounts — usually aren’t allowed. When in doubt, it’s probably not authorized.
When you sign correctly as the agent (not personally), you’re acting for them — you don’t take on their debts by serving.
How to sign as an agent
Always sign in your representative capacity — never just your own name on the principal’s business. A safe format anywhere is “Jane Doe, as agent for John Doe” (some institutions prefer “John Doe by Jane Doe, agent”). Signing your name alone can make you personally liable; signing as the agent makes clear you’re acting for them.
When the authority ends
- The principal revokes it — they can, at any time, as long as they’re competent.
- The principal dies — authority passes to the will or trust.
- A court appoints a guardian or conservator, or the document’s own end date or condition is reached.
One key distinction, everywhere: a durable Power of Attorney keeps working if the principal becomes incapacitated; a non-durable one ends at incapacity. Whether yours is durable is stated in the document itself.
Where to get the official forms
The official Alaska Power of Attorney and health care directive forms are free from the state and its official resources. Here’s where to find them — we link them as a resource so you can go straight to the source. What we provide is the plain-language help to understand and actually use them, not the forms themselves.
- Statutory form power of attorney — AS 13.26.645Official source: Alaska State Legislature — Alaska StatutesStatutory form power of attorney in AS 13.26.645. It does not cover health-care decisions; Alaska uses a separate Advance Health Care Directive (AS 13.52).Open on akleg.gov →
- Advance Health Care Directive optional form — AS 13.52.300Official source: Alaska State Legislature — Alaska Statutes (Health Care Decisions Act)Optional statutory sample form (AS 13.52.300) covering a health care agent, treatment instructions, and related choices.Open on akleg.gov →
POA Caregiver™ is not a law firm and does not provide legal, medical, tax, or financial advice. These links are an educational resource pointing you to official sources; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government office. Power of Attorney and health care directive requirements vary by state and change over time. Before you sign or rely on any form, confirm it is the current, correct form for your situation with the official Alaska source above or a licensed Alaska attorney. If a link doesn’t open, search for the form by name on the official state website.
Alaska POLST: a different kind of document
Alaska POLST
Alaska POLSTSource: Alaska POLST (statewide program led by AHHA and the Alaska Department of Health) (Statewide program)A POLST-type form is different from a general advance directive. It is generally intended for people with serious illness, advanced medical conditions or significant frailty, when current treatment wishes need to be written as medical orders — completed with a clinician. It is not a document every adult needs.Open on akpolst.org →
Learn the whole role
The POA Caregiver Program is national and works in every state — education for the whole role, from the day you’re named agent to confident, organized caregiving, with a Certificate of Completion when you finish.
Get Updates for Alaska
Where to go for official help
A simple starting list of the government offices an agent under a Power of Attorney (or their caregiver) in Alaska may need. Click a website to open the office’s official page in a new tab.
- Alaska Adult Protective ServicesReport harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults.health.alaska.gov/en/services/aps-report-harm → · 1-800-478-9996
- Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities ServicesState senior and disability services.health.alaska.gov/en/senior-and-disabilities-services →
- Alaska Department of Law: Consumer ProtectionConsumer complaints and scams.www.law.alaska.gov/department/civil/consumer/cpindex.html → · 1-888-576-2529
- Alaska Court System Self-Help: Powers of AttorneyCourt self-help on Powers of Attorney.courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/poa.htm →
- Alaska 2-1-1Statewide referrals to community services.alaska211.org → · 2-1-1
- Eldercare Locator (federal)Free help finding local aging services, Area Agencies on Aging, and adult protective services anywhere in the U.S.eldercare.acl.gov → · 1-800-677-1116
- Social Security Administration (federal)Benefits, the representative payee program, retirement and disability.www.ssa.gov →
- Medicare (federal)Federal health coverage for people 65+ and some disabilities.www.medicare.gov →
- CFPB — Managing Someone Else’s MoneyPlain-language federal guides for agents under a Power of Attorney.www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/managing-someone-elses-money →
POA Caregiver™ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any of these offices. This list is a resource to help guide you to the right official source — nothing more. Government offices, links, and phone numbers change over time, so if a link doesn’t open, search for the office by name to find its current official page.
Some of the best help is free and official. We point you to these authoritative sources — and give you the journey, organization, and plain-language navigation on top of them. See the full national resource library →
POA Caregiver™ is not a law firm and does not provide legal, medical, tax, or financial advice, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these organizations. They are shared as free educational resources — always confirm details with the official source or a licensed professional in your state.
Guides for every agent, in any state
Plain-English help that applies wherever you live — start with The Power of Attorney Agent’s Guide, or jump in:
What may help next
Now that you know what Alaska provides, let’s figure out what may help next. Tell us where you are right now.
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POA Caregiver provides education, not legal, medical, financial or tax advice. Authority comes from the Power of Attorney document and applicable law, and serving as an agent is a different role from caregiving.
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