Identification

• A power of attorney typically is filed with the county register of deed where the person who drafted the document lives.
  
  

Function

• Registration allows financial institutions, medical providers and others to confirm the granting of authority through a power of attorney.
  
  

Time Frame

• A small number of states require registration of a power of attorney. The laws in these states impose a deadline for filing.
  
  

Considerations

• There is a small fee associated with registering a power of attorney. The fee normally is a charge based on the number of pages. Typically, the document is only a couple of pages.
  
  

Misconceptions

• The most common misconception is that all states require the filing or registration of a power of attorney with the register of deeds. Most states do not.