Free General Power of Attorney Template

GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

All Financial Matters · State Of California

I, Catherine Anne Mitchell (the "Principal"), residing at 3200 Lakeside Drive, Seattle, WA 98101, State of California, being of legal age and sound mind, hereby appoint William James Mitchell (the "Agent" or "Attorney-in-Fact"), residing at 1850 Harbor View Road, Tacoma, WA 98402, as my lawful Agent with the powers and authority set forth in this General Power of Attorney.

I hereby grant my Agent full power and authority to act on my behalf in all financial matters, to the same extent and with the same effect as if I were personally present and acting. This grant of authority is intended to be as broad as permitted by law and includes all powers enumerated below as well as all powers reasonably necessary or incidental thereto.

This Power of Attorney shall become effective on March 20, 2026 and shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the Principal in writing, or until the Principal's death, whichever occurs first. This is a Non-Durable Power of Attorney. Pursuant to the common-law default and UPOAA §104 (Power of Attorney Is Durable) and its state analogs, a general power of attorney is not durable unless it expressly so provides. Accordingly, unless the Principal has executed a separate Durable Power of Attorney, this instrument shall automatically terminate under UPOAA §110 upon the Principal's incapacity or adjudication of incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction, in addition to the other termination events set forth in UPOAA §110 (revocation, death, or expiration). If the Principal desires a power of attorney that survives incapacity, a separate Durable Power of Attorney should be executed.

Without limiting the general authority granted above, the Agent is specifically authorized in the following areas:

(a) Real Property: Agent is authorized to purchase, sell, exchange, lease, sublease, mortgage, encumber, release, and otherwise deal with any real property in which the Principal has or may acquire an interest; execute deeds, purchase and sale agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, promissory notes, and all closing documents; hire and direct real estate brokers, title companies, inspectors, and attorneys; manage rental properties, collect rents, make repairs, and evict tenants; and take all actions necessary to complete any real property transaction on the Principal's behalf. This authority includes the power to grant easements, enter into boundary agreements, and consent to zoning changes.

(b) Banking and Financial Accounts: Agent is authorized to open, close, and manage checking, savings, money market, certificate of deposit, and other deposit accounts at any financial institution; make deposits, withdrawals, and transfers (including wire transfers and ACH transactions); access and manage online banking; apply for and manage loans, lines of credit, and credit cards; negotiate and execute promissory notes; access safe deposit boxes (if separately authorized below); and conduct any other banking transaction the Principal could perform, to the same extent as the Principal.

(c) Tax Matters: Agent is authorized to prepare, sign, and file all federal (IRS), state, and local income, gift, estate, and other tax returns, including amended returns; receive and negotiate tax refunds; execute consents extending the statutory period for assessments; enter into installment agreements; respond to audits, examinations, and notices; and represent the Principal before any taxing authority. Note: For formal representation before the IRS in audits or contested matters, a separate IRS Form 2848 signed by a qualifying representative is also required.

The Agent is further authorized in the following specific areas:

(a) Investments and Securities: Agent is authorized to manage, buy, sell, exchange, and transfer stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, futures, and other securities; manage brokerage, IRA, 401(k), and other investment and retirement accounts; reinvest dividends; make or change beneficiary designations where permitted by the plan or institution; exercise stock options; vote proxies; and make all investment and asset-allocation decisions consistent with the Principal's known financial objectives and risk tolerance. Agent shall exercise investment authority with the care, skill, and diligence of a prudent investor under the Uniform Prudent Investor Act.

(b) Business Operations: Agent is authorized to form, manage, operate, reorganize, merge, consolidate, or dissolve any sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation in which the Principal has an ownership interest; execute contracts, agreements, and instruments on behalf of such business entities; hire, compensate, and terminate employees and contractors; manage business bank accounts; acquire or dispose of business assets; and make all operational and strategic decisions necessary for the conduct of the Principal's business affairs.

(c) Insurance: Agent is authorized to apply for, purchase, modify, renew, or cancel life, health, disability, property, casualty, and liability insurance policies; designate or change beneficiaries where permitted; file, negotiate, and settle insurance claims; receive insurance proceeds; and otherwise deal with any insurance company or matter on the Principal's behalf, including accessing policy information, requesting policy loans, and exercising conversion rights.

(d) Claims and Litigation: Agent is authorized to assert, prosecute, defend, compromise, arbitrate, and settle any legal claim, demand, or proceeding in which the Principal is or may become a party; execute releases, settlement agreements, waivers, and satisfaction of judgments; retain, compensate, and discharge legal counsel; accept service of process; attend hearings and depositions; and take all actions necessary to protect the Principal's legal rights and interests, including filing complaints, motions, and appeals.

(e) Personal Property: Agent is authorized to acquire, sell, exchange, lease, manage, and dispose of all tangible and intangible personal property belonging to the Principal, including but not limited to vehicles, boats, aircraft, artwork, jewelry, collectibles, household furnishings, equipment, and intellectual property; execute bills of sale, titles, and registration documents; and store, insure, and maintain personal property on the Principal's behalf.

(f) Government Benefits: Agent is authorized to apply for, receive, and manage all government benefits to which the Principal is or may become entitled, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs benefits, disability benefits, unemployment compensation, and any other federal, state, or local government program; represent the Principal in connection with benefit applications, appeals, and hearings; and receive and deposit benefit payments on the Principal's behalf.

(g) Digital Assets and Accounts: Agent is authorized to access, manage, and control the Principal's digital assets, electronic communications, and online accounts, including email accounts, social media accounts, digital payment platforms, cryptocurrency wallets and exchange accounts, cloud storage accounts, domain names, and any other digital property, pursuant to the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (RUFADAA) as enacted in the governing state. Agent may change passwords, transfer digital assets, and close accounts as necessary.

(h) Safe Deposit Box: Agent is authorized to access, add to, and remove contents from any safe deposit box held in the Principal's name or jointly with another person at any financial institution, and to surrender or acquire safe deposit boxes on the Principal's behalf. The Agent shall maintain an inventory of all items accessed, added, or removed.

Notwithstanding the broad authority granted herein, the Agent's powers are subject to the following specific exclusions and limitations:

Agent may NOT sell or encumber the property located at 3200 Lakeside Drive, Seattle, WA 98101 without separate written authorization from the Principal.
Agent may NOT change beneficiary designations on any life insurance policy.

Any action taken by the Agent in violation of these limitations shall be void and of no legal effect, and the Agent shall be personally liable for any resulting damages.

The Agent shall receive no compensation for time or services but shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in performing duties under this Power of Attorney, including travel, postage, copying, filing fees, and similar costs, payable from the Principal's assets upon presentation of receipts or other documentation.

The Principal hereby waives the requirement that the Agent furnish a surety bond. The Principal has full confidence in the Agent's integrity and ability to manage the Principal's affairs faithfully and in the Principal's best interest.

The Agent shall maintain complete and accurate records of all transactions conducted on the Principal's behalf and shall provide the Principal (or the Principal's designated representative) with a written accounting at least annually, within sixty (60) days of the end of each calendar year. The accounting shall include a detailed listing of all receipts, disbursements, investments, and other transactions, along with the current value of all assets under management.

If William James Mitchell is unable or unwilling to serve, or ceases to act as Agent for any reason, I appoint Elizabeth Rose Mitchell, of 920 Elm Street, Bellevue, WA 98004 as Successor Agent, with the same powers and subject to the same limitations as the primary Agent. The Successor Agent shall assume duties only upon the primary Agent's written resignation, death, incapacity, or inability to serve.

The Agent shall at all times act as a fiduciary, in good faith, and in the Principal's best interest, in accordance with UPOAA §114 (Agent's Duties) and applicable state analogs. The Agent shall: (a) keep the Principal's property separate from the Agent's own property and avoid commingling; (b) exercise authority with the care, competence, and diligence ordinarily exercised by agents in similar circumstances; (c) maintain reasonable records of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions; (d) cooperate with any person designated by the Principal to monitor the Agent's conduct; (e) attempt to preserve the Principal's estate plan to the extent the Agent has actual knowledge of it; and (f) not exercise authority contrary to the Principal's reasonable expectations actually known by the Agent or, absent such knowledge, in the Principal's best interest. The duties of good faith, acting within the scope of authority, and refraining from acting in bad faith are non-waivable under UPOAA §114(b). Agent's liability for breach of these duties is governed by UPOAA §117.

Pursuant to UPOAA §§119-120 (Acceptance of and Reliance Upon Acknowledged Power of Attorney; Liability for Refusal to Accept) and applicable state analogs, any person, firm, corporation, financial institution, or other entity that in good faith accepts a copy of this Power of Attorney (including a photocopy, facsimile, or electronically transmitted copy) and acts in reliance on it shall be fully protected and held harmless as though dealing with the Principal personally. No third party shall be required to investigate the validity of this Power of Attorney, the truth of any representations made by the Agent, or whether any particular act is within the Agent's authority. A third party may request, and the Agent shall provide, a certification of factual matters, an English translation, and/or an opinion of counsel, as contemplated by UPOAA §119(d). A third party that refuses to honor this Power of Attorney without reasonable cause may be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and costs as provided by UPOAA §120 and applicable state analog (e.g., Cal. Prob. Code §4406; N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §5-1504; Fla. Stat. §709.2120).

The Principal retains the full right to revoke this Power of Attorney at any time while competent, pursuant to UPOAA §110 (Termination of Power of Attorney or Agent's Authority), by executing a written Revocation and delivering it to the Agent and to any third parties who have relied upon it. Revocation is effective upon the Agent's actual receipt of written notice. Consistent with the "superseded-by" doctrine under UPOAA §110(f), the execution of a subsequent Power of Attorney shall not automatically revoke this Power of Attorney unless the subsequent document expressly so states or its provisions are inconsistent. Termination events also include the Principal's death, adjudication of incapacity (this being non-durable), the expiration of the term stated herein, or the Agent's death, incapacity, or resignation (in which case any Successor Agent named herein assumes authority).

This Power of Attorney shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, including any applicable provisions of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) §§101-123 as enacted in California, and any state-specific statute, such as California Probate Code §§4022-4054 (UPOA), New York General Obligations Law §§5-1501 to 5-1516 (including the statutory short-form provisions of §5-1513), Florida Statutes §§709.2101-.2402 (Florida Power of Attorney Act), or Texas Estates Code §§751.001-.252. The construction of Agent's authority is governed by UPOAA §§201-217 (General Authority With Respect to Specific Matters). If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. This Power of Attorney shall be construed and interpreted broadly to effectuate the Principal's intent to grant the Agent the broadest authority permitted by law, subject to the limitations stated herein.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, Catherine Anne Mitchell, the Principal, have executed this General Power of Attorney in the State of California.

NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of ________________________, County of ________________________

On this ______ day of ________________________, 20______, before me personally appeared Catherine Anne Mitchell, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that they executed the same for the purposes therein contained.