Sign the check in the account holder's name, then add your title below it
When you sign a check as power of attorney, you are signing on behalf of someone else — the principal. The bank needs to see that you are acting in that role, not spending their money as your own. The standard format is to write the principal's name on the signature line, then sign your own name below it with "Power of Attorney" or "POA" next to your signature.
The exact wording matters because the bank uses it to verify you have authority. If you sign only your own name, the bank may refuse to cash the check or freeze the account while they investigate. If you sign only the principal's name without identifying yourself, you create a document that looks forged.
Before you sign anything, confirm that the power of attorney document actually covers check-signing. Some POAs are limited to specific tasks — paying medical bills, managing real estate, or handling investments — and do not include banking authority. If the document does not mention checks or banking, the bank will reject the check even if you sign it correctly.
Key Takeaways
- Write the principal's name on the check's signature line, then sign your own name directly below it with "POA" or "Power of Attorney" next to your signature.
- The power of attorney document must explicitly grant banking or check-signing authority, or the bank will refuse to process the check.
- The bank may ask to see the original power of attorney document or a certified copy before cashing the check, especially if the amount is large.
- Some banks require you to register the power of attorney with them in advance and may issue you a special card or form to use when signing checks.
- If the principal is still alive and mentally capable, they can revoke the power of attorney at any time, which when ready ends your authority to sign checks.
What the signature line should look like
The principal's name goes on the signature line itself. Below that, on the next line or in the margin, write your own name followed by your title. The clearest format is:
[Principal's Name] By: [Your Name], Power of Attorney
Some people write it as "[Principal's Name], by [Your Name], POA" all on one line if space is tight, but the two-line version is clearer and less likely to confuse the bank teller. Do not initial the check or add extra marks — the signature itself is your authorization.
If the check is from a business account where the principal is the owner, follow the same rule. Write the business name or the principal's name (depending on whose account it is), then sign as power of attorney below it. The bank's records will show who the account belongs to, so the signature format tells them you are acting under authority, not as the account owner.
Registering with the bank before you sign
Many banks require you to register the power of attorney with them before you can sign checks. This is not a legal requirement — it is the bank's internal policy. Call the bank's customer service line or visit a branch in person and ask what they need to register a power of attorney on the account.
Typically, the bank will ask for the original power of attorney document or a certified copy. Some banks will photocopy it and keep it on file. Others will issue you a form to sign acknowledging that you have authority. A few banks will add a note to the account flagging that checks signed by you are authorized, which speeds up processing later.
If you do not register in advance and try to cash a large check, the bank may put a hold on it while they verify your authority. This can take several days. Registering ahead of time prevents that delay. If the principal is in a hospital or care facility, ask the facility's social worker or patient advocate whether they have a relationship with the bank — some facilities can help expedite the registration process.
What happens if the bank refuses the check
A bank can refuse to cash a check signed as power of attorney for several reasons: the power of attorney document does not cover banking, you did not register with the bank first, the document has expired, or the principal has revoked it. If the bank refuses, ask the teller or manager which reason applies.
If the problem is that you did not register, you can do that on the spot. Bring the power of attorney document with you and ask to complete the registration. If the document does not cover banking, you will need a new power of attorney that does, or you will need to ask the principal to sign a separate authorization letter for that specific check.
If the principal has revoked the power of attorney, you have no authority to sign checks, and the bank is correct to refuse. If you believe the revocation was done under duress or by someone without authority to revoke it, that is a legal matter that requires a lawyer — the bank will not cash the check based on your explanation alone.
Timing and the principal's death
A power of attorney ends when ready when the principal dies. After that date, you cannot sign checks on their behalf, even if you did not know they had died. If you sign a check after the principal's death, you are signing without authority, and the bank can pursue you for fraud.
If the principal is in hospice or very ill, ask their doctor or the facility staff when they expect death to occur. If you have checks that need to be signed for final bills or medical expenses, sign them before death if possible. If you need to pay bills after death, you will need to work through the estate — either as the executor named in the will or by going through probate court.
Some banks will ask you to notify them when the principal dies so they can flag the account and prevent checks from being cashed. If you are the executor, do this as soon as possible. If you are not the executor but you know the principal has died, you can call the bank and let them know — they will not release information about the account to you, but they will note that the power of attorney is no longer valid.
Checks written to the principal versus checks written to you
If a check is made out to the principal, you can sign it as power of attorney using the format above. The bank will cash it because the account belongs to the principal and you have authority to manage it.
If a check is made out to you personally, you cannot sign it as power of attorney. You would sign it as yourself, and it would go into your own account. This is true even if you are using the money for the principal's benefit — the check is made out to you, so it is your money once you deposit it. If you want to use it for the principal's expenses, you would transfer it from your account to theirs or pay the bill directly.
Some people ask whether they can have checks made out to "the principal, by power of attorney" or similar language. Banks do not recognize this format. Checks must be made out to a person or a business name. If you need to receive money on the principal's behalf, ask the payer to make the check out to the principal, and then you sign it as power of attorney.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not sign only your own name. The bank will think you are spending the principal's money as your own, and they may freeze the account or report it to law enforcement. Do not sign only the principal's name without identifying yourself — it looks forged, and the bank will question it.
Do not assume the power of attorney covers check-signing. Read the document carefully. If it says "banking authority" or "financial authority," it covers checks. If it lists specific powers and checks are not mentioned, it does not. Do not sign checks if you are not sure — call the bank or ask a lawyer first.
Do not sign checks after the principal dies or after the power of attorney has been revoked. Do not sign checks for yourself or for anyone other than the principal, even if you are using the money for the principal's benefit. Do not sign checks from accounts you do not have authority over — if the principal has multiple accounts, the power of attorney may cover only some of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sign a check as power of attorney if the principal is still alive?
Yes. A power of attorney is valid while the principal is alive and mentally capable of revoking it. The principal can revoke it at any time, which when ready ends your authority. If the principal is in a coma or has been declared incompetent, the power of attorney remains valid unless a court revokes it.
What if the bank says they have never heard of the power of attorney?
Bring the original document or a certified copy to the bank in person. Ask to speak with a manager, not a teller. The bank may need to verify it with their legal department before cashing the check. If the bank still refuses, ask them in writing what specific reason they are giving, and keep a copy for your records. You may need a lawyer to compel them to honor the power of attorney.
Can I sign a check as power of attorney if I am also a beneficiary of the principal's estate?
Yes, but be careful. You can sign checks for the principal's legitimate expenses — medical bills, rent, utilities, care costs. You cannot sign checks to yourself or transfer money to yourself without the principal's explicit written permission. If the principal is not mentally capable of giving permission, a court may need to review the transaction to make sure you are not taking advantage of them.
Do I need to keep records of checks I sign as power of attorney?
Yes. Keep copies of every check you sign, along with receipts or documentation of what the money was used for. If the principal is still alive, they may ask you to account for the money. If the principal dies, the executor or the court may ask you to prove that you spent the money appropriately. Poor record-keeping can make it look like you misused the funds, even if you did not.
What if the principal's name is misspelled on the check?
If the check is made out to a misspelled version of the principal's name, sign it exactly as it appears on the check, then write the correct spelling below it. The bank may ask the principal to endorse it as well. If the misspelling is significant enough that it does not match the account name, the bank may refuse to cash it and ask for a new check with the correct spelling.