Power of attorney guide
Power of Attorney in Kentucky
A Kentucky power of attorney must be acknowledged before a notary; no witnesses are required. Kentucky publishes a statutory form (KRS 457.050 (execution)). An online notarization performed under another state's law is recognized in Kentucky.
Kentucky power of attorney at a glance
Notary
Required
Witnesses
None required
Online notarization
Accepted
Statutory form
KRS 457.050 (execution)
Financial (property) power of attorney under KRS 457.010 et seq.. Health-care documents follow their own rule — see below. Checked 2026-10-17.
The Kentucky statutory form
No statutory form; Kentucky did not enact the uniform act's optional form — KRS 457.050 (execution).
The statutory form is the one banks and recorders in Kentucky see most often, and the one the statute requires third parties to accept when it is properly signed. A lawyer-drafted power of attorney is equally valid if it is executed the same way.
How to sign a power of attorney in Kentucky
A power of attorney must be signed by the principal and acknowledged before a notary public or other person authorized to take acknowledgments (KRS 457.050, as amended in 2020 to drop the earlier two-witness requirement).
No witnesses have been required since July 15, 2020.
Online notarization in Kentucky
Kentucky recognizes a notarial act performed in another state by an authorized notary (KRS 423.345 and the older KRS 423.110); Kentucky's own online notarization has run since 2020.
Rush Notary’s notaries are commissioned online notaries public in Florida and notarize for Kentucky signers over live video under Florida’s remote online notarization law. The certificate they complete is a Florida certificate; Kentucky honors it under the recognition rule above. Details for this state are on the Kentucky online notarization requirements page.
Using it for real estate
A power of attorney for a conveyance must be acknowledged and recorded with the county clerk (KRS 382.370).
Title companies also ask the agent to sign an affidavit at closing that the principal is alive and the power has not been revoked, and lenders review the document before closing. See the real estate power of attorney page.
Medical power of attorney in Kentucky
A Kentucky living will directive naming a health care surrogate (KRS 311.625) must be signed before two adult witnesses or a notary; the surrogate, relatives, heirs and the health-care provider may not witness.
What a health-care agent can decide, and how the document differs from a living will, is on the medical power of attorney page.
Revoking a Kentucky power of attorney
Written revocation delivered to the agent; record it with the county clerk if the power was recorded.
Kentucky power of attorney forms we index
Government forms in Kentucky that are powers of attorney — limited powers for permits, zoning and tax matters, and state-agency forms — each with the issuing office, the notary requirement and the PDF.
State agency forms
TC 96-336 Limited Power of Attorney to Transfer Ownership and Disclose Mileage · Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
TC 96-336 appoints an attorney-in-fact to handle vehicle title transfer and mileage disclosure. Attach the completed, notarized form to the title and registration application.
Kentucky power of attorney questions
- Does a power of attorney need to be notarized in Kentucky?
- A power of attorney must be signed by the principal and acknowledged before a notary public or other person authorized to take acknowledgments (KRS 457.050, as amended in 2020 to drop the earlier two-witness requirement).
- Does a Kentucky power of attorney need witnesses?
- No witnesses have been required since July 15, 2020.
- Can a Kentucky power of attorney be notarized online?
- Kentucky recognizes a notarial act performed in another state by an authorized notary (KRS 423.345 and the older KRS 423.110); Kentucky's own online notarization has run since 2020.
- Is there an official Kentucky power of attorney form?
- Yes — the No statutory form; Kentucky did not enact the uniform act's optional form (KRS 457.050 (execution)).
- Does a power of attorney have to be recorded in Kentucky?
- Only when it is used to sign a deed, mortgage or other recorded instrument. A power of attorney for a conveyance must be acknowledged and recorded with the county clerk (KRS 382.370).
- How is a medical power of attorney signed in Kentucky?
- A Kentucky living will directive naming a health care surrogate (KRS 311.625) must be signed before two adult witnesses or a notary; the surrogate, relatives, heirs and the health-care provider may not witness.
Types of power of attorney
Durable power of attorney
Stays in force if you later lose capacity. The standard choice for long-term planning.
Medical power of attorney
Names someone to make health care decisions when you cannot. Witness rules vary by state.
Limited power of attorney
Authority for one task or one period — a closing, a permit, a vehicle sale, a trip abroad.
Financial power of attorney
Banking, bills, investments, taxes and property. Usually durable; usually on the state's statutory form.
Springing power of attorney
Takes effect only when a stated event happens — usually a doctor's finding of incapacity.
Vehicle power of attorney
Lets someone title, register or sell a car for you. Most DMVs publish their own notarized form.
Real estate power of attorney
To buy, sell, mortgage or manage property. Must be notarized and is recorded with the deed.
Power of attorney for a minor child
Lets a grandparent, relative or friend care for your child and deal with schools and doctors while you are away.
Power of attorney for vital records
Lets an agent request a birth, death or marriage certificate for you where the state allows it.
Other states
- Texas
- California
- Florida
- New York
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
General information about how powers of attorney are signed, not legal advice. Execution rules are set by each state’s statute and change; the sources on each state page link to the current text. Whether a particular bank, recorder, agency or title company accepts a document is its own decision — confirm with the receiving party before signing. Rush Notary’s notaries are commissioned online notaries public in Florida who notarize for signers in every state under Florida’s remote online notarization law; see the online notarization requirements for your state.