<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75967</law_id><section_number>64.2-1607</section_number><catch_line>When power of attorney effective</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Fiduciaries and Guardians</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="B">Powers of Attorney</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="16">Uniform Power of Attorney Act</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is effective when executed unless the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> provides in the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> that it becomes effective at a future date or upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency. <a id="paragraph-272726" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1607/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> becomes effective upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency, the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, in the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>, may authorize one or more <span class="dictionary">persons</span> to determine in a writing or other <span class="dictionary">record</span> that the event or contingency has occurred. <a id="paragraph-272727" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1607/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> becomes effective upon the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">incapacity</span> and the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> has not authorized a <span class="dictionary">person</span> to determine whether the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> is incapacitated, or the <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized is unable or unwilling to make the determination, the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> becomes effective upon a determination in a writing or other <span class="dictionary">record</span> by (i) the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s attending physician and a second physician or licensed clinical psychologist after personal examination of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> that the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> is incapacitated within the meaning of subdivision 1 of the definition of <span class="dictionary">incapacity</span> in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-1600/">64.2-1600</a> or (ii) an attorney-at-<span class="dictionary">law</span>, a <span class="dictionary">judge</span>, or an appropriate governmental official that the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> is incapacitated within the meaning of subdivision 1 of the definition of <span class="dictionary">incapacity</span> in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-1600/">64.2-1600</a>. <a id="paragraph-272728" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1607/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">person</span> authorized by the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> in the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> to determine that the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> is incapacitated may act as the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">personal representative</span> pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, &#xA7;&#xA7; 1171 through 1179 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1320d, as amended, and applicable regulations, to obtain access to the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s health care information and communicate with the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s health care provider. <a id="paragraph-272729" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1607/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, cc. 455, 632, &#xA7; 26-80; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
