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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80493</law_id><section_number>20-167</section_number><catch_line>Statutory form for power of attorney to delegate parental or legal custodial powers</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>20-166</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="10">Power of Attorney to Delegate Parental or Legal Custodial Powers</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> to delegate parental or legal authority executed pursuant to this chapter shall be substantially as follows:
			<span class="dictionary">POWER OF ATTORNEY</span> TO DELEGATE PARENTAL OR LEGAL CUSTODIAL POWERS <a id="paragraph-288347" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> I/We certify that I/we am/are the parent or legal custodian of:
				Full name of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child: _________________________ Date of birth: ________________
				Full name of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child: _________________________ Date of birth: ________________
				Full name of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child: _________________________ Date of birth: ________________ <a id="paragraph-288348" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> I/We ________________ designate (insert full name, address, and phone number of designated <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span>) as the <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span> of each child listed above. <a id="paragraph-288349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> I/We delegate to the <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span> all of my/our power and authority regarding the care, <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, and property of each <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child named above, including discharge of a newborn infant from the hospital of birth, the initial physical placement of a child with the prospective adoptive parent in accordance with the provisions of Title 63.2 of the Code of Virginia, the right to enroll the child in school, the right to inspect and obtain copies of education records and other records concerning the child, the right to attend school activities and other functions concerning the child, and the right to give or withhold any consent or <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> with respect to school activities, medical and dental treatment, and any other activity, function, or treatment that may concern the child. This delegation shall not include the power or authority to consent to marriage or adoption of the child, the performance or inducement of an abortion on or for the child, or the termination of parental rights to the child. I/We understand that this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> shall not operate to change or modify any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority established by an existing <span class="dictionary">court order</span> or deprive a parent or legal custodian of any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority regarding the <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, visitation, or support of any child under Title 20 of the Code of Virginia, and I/we understand that I/we shall continue to be bound by any obligations in such order. By my/our signature below, I/we hereby certify that I/we am/are not executing this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> for any unlawful purpose or for the primary purpose of enrolling my/our child/children in a school for the sole purpose of participating in the academic or interscholastic athletics programs provided by that school.
				OR <a id="paragraph-288350" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p><p>I/We delegate to the <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span> the following specific powers and responsibilities:
				__________________________________________________________________
				__________________________________________________________________.
				This delegation shall not include the power or authority to consent to marriage or adoption of the child, the performance or inducement of an abortion on or for the child, or the termination of parental rights to the child. I/We understand that this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> shall not operate to change or modify any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority established by an existing <span class="dictionary">court order</span> or deprive a parent or legal custodian of any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority regarding the <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, visitation, or support of any child under Title 20 of the Code of Virginia, and I/we understand that I/we shall continue to be bound by any obligations in such order. By my/our signature below, I/we hereby certify that I/we am/are not executing this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> for any unlawful purpose or for the primary purpose of enrolling my/our child/children in a school for the sole purpose of participating in the academic or interscholastic athletics programs provided by that school. <a id="paragraph-288351" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> This <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is effective for a period not to exceed 180 days, beginning ____________ (insert date) and ending _________ (insert date). I/We reserve the right to revoke this authority at any time.
				OR <a id="paragraph-288352" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p><p>I/We am/are a service member, as defined by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Power of attorney to delegate parental or legal custodial powers" href="/20-166/">20-166</a> of the Code of Virginia, and am/are on, or am/are scheduled to be on, active duty for a period that is set to last longer than 180 days. This <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is effective for a period not to exceed the period of active duty plus 30 days, beginning ___________ (insert date) and ending _________ (insert date). I/We reserve the right to revoke this authority at any time.
				Signature(s) of parent/legal custodian: ___________________________ Date: _____________ <a id="paragraph-288353" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> I hereby accept my designation as <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span> for the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child/children specified in this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> and agree to act at all times in the best interests of the child/children specified herein and within the limits of the powers delegated to me. I understand that this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> does not change or modify any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority established by an existing <span class="dictionary">court order</span> or deprive a parent or legal custodian of any parental or legal rights, obligations, or authority regarding the <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, visitation, or support of the child/children specified herein. By my signature below, I <span class="dictionary">affirm</span> that I have received notice of any existing <span class="dictionary">court order</span> regarding the <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, visitation, or support of the child/children and agree to honor the rights of a parent or legal custodian of the child/children as specified in such order.
				Signature of <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span>: __________________________ Date: ____________ <a id="paragraph-288354" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> I, ______________________________ (insert name of representative of licensed child-placing agency), on behalf of ________________________ (insert name of licensed child-placing agency), hereby approve the designation of the aforementioned <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span> for the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child/children specified in this <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> and accept responsibility for the supervision of the placement during the time the child/children is/are in the care of the <span class="dictionary">attorney-in-<span class="dictionary">fact</span></span>.
				Signature of representative of licensed child-placing agency: _______________________ Date: ___________ <a id="paragraph-288355" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> executed under this chapter is legally sufficient if the wording of the form complies substantially with subsection A, the form is properly completed, and the signatures of the parties are acknowledged or verified before a notary public. <a id="paragraph-288356" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-167/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2019, c. 297; 2024, c. 90.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
