Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 18-16 - Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act
Section 18-16-2. - Statutory short form power of attorney.

§ 18-16-2. Statutory short form power of attorney.
(a) The statutory short form power of attorney is as follows:
SHORT FORM POWER OF ATTORNEYWARNING TO PERSON EXECUTING THIS DOCUMENT
This is an important legal document which is authorized by the general laws of this state. The powers granted by this document are broad and sweeping. They are defined in §§ 18-16-1 to 18-16-12, both inclusive, of the general laws in chapter 18-16 entitled “Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act.”
The use of the short form power of attorney is strictly voluntary, and chapter 18-16 specifically authorizes the use of any other or different form of power of attorney upon mutual agreement of the parties concerned.
Known All Men by These Presents, which are intended to constitute a GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY pursuant to the Rhode Island Short Form Power of Attorney Act:
That I_______________________________________ (insert name and address of the principal) do hereby appoint_______________________________________ (insert name and address of the agent, or each agent, if more than one is designated) my attorney(s)-in-fact TO ACT_______________________________________ .
(If more than one agent is designated and the principal wishes each agent alone to be able to exercise the power conferred, insert in this blank the word “severally”. Failure to make any insertion or the insertion of the word “jointly” shall require the agents to act jointly.)
First: In my name, place and stead in any way which I myself could do, if I were personally present, with respect to the following matters as each of them is defined in the Rhode Island Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney Act to the extent that I am permitted by law to act through an agent:
(STRIKE OUT AND INITIAL ON THE OPPOSITE LINE ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE SUBDIVISIONS AS TO WHICH THE PRINCIPAL DOES NOT DESIRE TO GIVE THE AGENT AUTHORITY. SUCH ELIMINATION OF ANY ONE OR MORE OF SUBDIVISIONS (A) TO (I), INCLUSIVE, SHALL AUTOMATICALLY CONSTITUTE AN ELIMINATION ALSO OF SUBDIVISION (J).
To strike out any subdivision the principal must draw a line through the text of that subdivision AND write his initials in the line opposite.
(A) real state transactions;
(B) chattel and goods transactions;
(C) bond, share and commodity transactions;
(D) banking transactions;
(E) business operating transactions;
(F) insurance transactions;
(G) claims and litigations;
(H) benefits from military service;
(I) records, reports and statements;
(J) all other matters;
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(Special provisions and limitations may be included in the statutory short form power of attorney only if they conform to the requirements of the Rhode Island Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney Act.)
Second: This power of attorney shall:
(A) be of indefinite duration or
(B) terminate on the following date, _________________________________________ , unless otherwise terminated by revocation, destruction or other affirmative action.
Third: Hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney(s) or substitute(s) do or cause to be done.
In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal this ___________ day of _____________________ 20___________ .
_______________________________________ (Signature of Principal) (Seal)
(ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)
This power of attorney shall not be affected by the subsequent incompetency of the donor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal this ___________ day of _____________________ 20___________ .
_______________________________________ (Signature of Principal) (Seal)
(ACKNOWLEDGEMENT)

(b) The execution of this statutory short form power of attorney shall be duly acknowledged by the principal in the manner prescribed for the acknowledgement of a conveyance of real property.
(c) No provision of this chapter shall be construed to bar the use of any other or different form of power of attorney desired by the parties concerned.
(d) Every statutory short form power of attorney shall contain, in bold face type or a reasonable equivalent of it, the “Notice” at the beginning of this section.
(e) A power of attorney is a “statutory short form power of attorney,” as this phrase is used in this chapter, when it is in writing, has been duly acknowledged by the principal and contains the exact wording of clause First set forth in subsection (a) of this section, except that any one or more of subdivisions (A) to (J) of the form may be stricken out and initialed by the principal, in which case the subdivisions stricken out and initialed and also subdivision (J) of the form shall be deemed eliminated. A statutory short form power of attorney may contain modifications or additions to the types described in § 18-16-15.
(f) If more than one agent is designated by the principal, the agents, in the exercise of the powers conferred, shall act jointly unless the principal specifically provides in the statutory short form power of attorney that they are to act severally.
History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 375, § 1.