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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>375938</law_id><section_number>64.2-1604</section_number><catch_line>Validity of power of attorney</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="136" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="4" identifier="IV">Fiduciaries and Guardians</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="2" 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> executed in the Commonwealth on or after July 1, 2010, is valid if its execution complies with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Execution of power of attorney" href="/64.2-1603/">64.2-1603</a>. <a id="paragraph-1403553" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1604/#A"><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 in the Commonwealth before July 1, 2010, is valid if its execution complied with the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the Commonwealth as it existed at the time of execution. <a id="paragraph-1403554" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1604/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> executed other than in the Commonwealth is valid in the Commonwealth if, when the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> was executed, the execution complied with (i) the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> that determines the meaning and effect of the <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Meaning and effect of power of attorney" href="/64.2-1605/">64.2-1605</a>; (ii) the requirements for a military <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> pursuant to 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 1044b, as amended; or (iii) the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-1403555" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1604/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as otherwise provided by <span class="dictionary">statute</span> other than this chapter, a photocopy or electronically transmitted copy of an original <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> has the same effect as the original. <a id="paragraph-1403556" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1604/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An <span class="dictionary">agent</span> in <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a general, special, or limited <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> or other writing vesting any power or authority in him shall, where the instrument is otherwise valid, be deemed to possess the powers and authority granted by such instrument notwithstanding any failure of the <span class="dictionary">principal</span> to deliver the instrument to him, and <span class="dictionary">persons</span> dealing with such <span class="dictionary">agent</span> shall have no obligation to inquire into the manner or circumstances by which such <span class="dictionary">possession</span> was acquired, provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude the <span class="dictionary">court</span> from considering such manner or circumstances as relevant factors in any proceeding brought to terminate, suspend, or limit the authority of the <span class="dictionary">agent</span>. <a id="paragraph-1403557" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1604/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, cc. 455, 632, &#xA7; 26-77; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
