Legal Definitions - Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act

The Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act is a legal document that allows a person to appoint someone else to make decisions on their behalf. This document is designed to be durable, meaning that it remains in effect even if the person who created it becomes incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves.

For example, if an elderly person creates a durable power of attorney and later develops dementia, the person they appointed can continue to make decisions on their behalf.

The Act was first created in 1979 and has since been revised in 1987. It has been adopted in almost every state in the United States.