Whenever a power of attorney relating to or affecting real estate in this State, executed by a person who is in the service or employment of the Federal Government and who is reported by the Federal Government or an agency or department thereof as lost, missing, missing in action or being held incommunicado or imprisoned in any foreign country, shall be recorded in the county in which such real estate is situated, together with an affidavit, executed by the attorney-in-fact or agent, setting forth that he has not or had not, at the time of doing any act pursuant to the power of attorney, received actual knowledge or actual notice of revocation or termination of the power of attorney, by death or otherwise, or notice of any facts, indicating the same, any person dealing in good faith with the person named in such power of attorney, so recorded, as agent or attorney in fact in any transaction within the powers expressed in such power of attorney shall not be required to ascertain whether or not the person who executed such power of attorney be then living, and any bona fide purchaser for value who accepts a deed, mortgage, lease, or other instrument relating to or affecting real estate in this State, executed by the person named as agent or attorney in fact in the power of attorney so recorded, pursuant to the powers expressed in such power of attorney and in the name of the principal, shall be protected against any claim that such power of attorney, so relied upon, had been terminated by the death of the principal or had been otherwise revoked, unless prior to the execution and delivery of such deed, mortgage, lease, or other instrument there shall have been filed in the office of the recorder of the county where the power of attorney is recorded, (1) an instrument duly executed and acknowledged, revoking the powers contained in the power of attorney, or (2) an affidavit in proof of the death of the person who executed such power of attorney. For the purposes of this Section the term “bona fide purchaser” shall be deemed to include “bona fide mortgagee”.
     No report or listing, either official or otherwise, of “missing” or “missing in action”, as such words are used in military parlance, shall constitute or be interpreted as constituting actual knowledge or actual notice of the death of such principal or notice of any facts indicating the same, or shall operate to revoke the agency.

Need help reviewing a real estate contract?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 765 ILCS 5/28b

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14