Virginia Code 64.2-1608: Termination of power of attorney or agent’s authority
A. A power of attorney terminates when:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 64.2-1608
- Adult: means a person 18 years of age or more. See Virginia Code 1-203
- Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
- 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
1. The principal dies;
2. The principal becomes a vulnerable adult, if the power of attorney is not durable;
3. The principal revokes the power of attorney;
4. The power of attorney provides that it terminates;
5. The purpose of the power of attorney is accomplished; or
6. The principal revokes the agent’s authority or the agent dies, becomes a vulnerable adult, or resigns, and the power of attorney does not provide for another agent to act under the power of attorney.
B. An agent’s authority terminates when:
1. The principal revokes the authority;
2. The agent dies, becomes a vulnerable adult, or resigns;
3. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, an action is filed (i) for the divorce or annulment of the agent’s marriage to the principal or their legal separation, (ii) by either the agent or principal for separate maintenance from the other, or (iii) by either the agent or principal for custody or visitation of a child in common with the other;
4. The agent is convicted of financial exploitation of the principal under § 18.2-178.2; or
5. The power of attorney terminates.
C. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, an agent’s authority is exercisable until the authority terminates under subsection B, notwithstanding a lapse of time since the execution of the power of attorney.
D. Termination of an agent’s authority or of a power of attorney is not effective as to the agent or another person that, without actual knowledge of the termination, acts in good faith under the power of attorney. An act so performed, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, binds the principal and the principal’s successors in interest.
E. Incapacity of the principal of a power of attorney that is not durable does not revoke or terminate the power of attorney as to an agent or other person that, without actual knowledge of the incapacity, acts in good faith under the power of attorney. An act so performed, unless otherwise invalid or unenforceable, binds the principal and the principal’s successors in interest.
F. The execution of a power of attorney does not revoke a power of attorney previously executed by the principal unless the subsequent power of attorney provides that the previous power of attorney is revoked or that all other powers of attorney are revoked.
2010, cc. 455, 632, § 26-81; 2012, cc. 57, 614; 2022, cc. 397, 654.