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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71735</law_id><section_number>64.2-1622</section_number><catch_line>Authority that requires specific grant; grant of general authority</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-1624</reference><reference>64.2-1625</reference></referred_to_by><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="2">Authority</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Subject to the provisions of subsection H, an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> under a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> may do the following on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> or with the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span> only if the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> expressly grants the <span class="dictionary">agent</span> the authority and exercise of the authority is not otherwise prohibited or limited by another <span class="dictionary">statute</span>, agreement, or instrument to which the authority or <span class="dictionary">property</span> is subject: <a id="paragraph-258436" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Create, <span class="dictionary">amend</span>, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust; <a id="paragraph-258437" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Make a gift; <a id="paragraph-258438" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Create or change rights of survivorship; <a id="paragraph-258439" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Create or change a beneficiary designation; <a id="paragraph-258440" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Delegate authority granted under the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>; <a id="paragraph-258441" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Waive</span> the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan; <a id="paragraph-258442" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Exercise <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> powers that the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> has authority to delegate; or <a id="paragraph-258443" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Have authority over the content of an <span class="dictionary">electronic</span> communication of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> as provided by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosure of content of electronic communications of principal" href="/64.2-123/">64.2-123</a>. <a id="paragraph-258444" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Notwithstanding a grant of authority to do an act described in subsection A or H, unless the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> otherwise provides, an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> that is not an ancestor, spouse, or descendant of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> may not exercise authority under a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> to create in the <span class="dictionary">agent</span>, or in an individual to whom the <span class="dictionary">agent</span> owes a legal obligation of support, an interest in the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span>, whether by gift, right of survivorship, beneficiary designation, disclaimer, or otherwise. <a id="paragraph-258445" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Subject to subsections A, B, D, and E, if a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> grants to an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> authority to do all acts that a <span class="dictionary">principal</span> could do, the <span class="dictionary">agent</span> has the general authority described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclosure of other digital assets of principal" href="/64.2-124/">64.2-124</a> and &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Real property" href="/64.2-1625/">64.2-1625</a> through <a class="law" title="Taxes" href="/64.2-1637/">64.2-1637</a>. <a id="paragraph-258446" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Unless the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> otherwise provides and subject to subsection H, a grant of authority to make a gift is subject to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Gifts" href="/64.2-1638/">64.2-1638</a>. <a id="paragraph-258447" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Subject to subsections A, B, and D, if the subjects over which authority is granted in a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> are similar or overlap, the broadest authority controls. <a id="paragraph-258448" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Authority granted in a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is exercisable with respect to <span class="dictionary">property</span> that the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> has when the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is executed or acquires later, whether or not the <span class="dictionary">property</span> is located in the Commonwealth and whether or not the authority is exercised or the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> is executed in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-258449" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> An act performed by an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> pursuant to a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> has the same effect and inures to the benefit of and binds the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> and the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s successors in interest as if the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> had performed the act. <a id="paragraph-258450" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, if a <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> grants to an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> authority to do all acts that a <span class="dictionary">principal</span> could do, the <span class="dictionary">agent</span> shall have the authority to make gifts in any amount of any of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span> to any individuals or to organizations described in &#xA7;&#xA7; 170(c) and 2522(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding future provisions of federal tax <span class="dictionary">law</span>, or both, in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s personal history of making or joining in the making of lifetime gifts. This subsection shall not in any way impair the right or power of any <span class="dictionary">principal</span>, by express words in the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>, to authorize, or limit the authority of, an <span class="dictionary">agent</span> to make gifts of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span>. <a id="paragraph-258451" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1622/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, cc. 455, 632, &#xA7; 26-95; 2012, c. 614; 2017, cc. 33, 80.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
