Power of Attorney in Colorado

Colorado has a Statutory Form Power of Attorney under its Uniform Power of Attorney Act. A power of attorney must be signed by the principal (or by someone at the principal's direction in their conscious presence). Notarization is not strictly required, but a signature acknowledged before a notary is presumed genuine. A power of attorney made on or after January 1, 2010 is durable unless it says it ends when the principal becomes incapacitated.

Colorado recognizes a medical durable power of attorney, which names an agent to consent to or refuse medical treatment when the person lacks decisional capacity; the statute does not set a witness or notary requirement for it. A living will (declaration as to medical treatment) lets an adult with decisional capacity direct that life-sustaining procedures be withheld if they have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state; it must be signed in front of two witnesses or acknowledged before a notary, and certain interested people cannot serve as witness or notary.

Colorado has an optional "State of Colorado Statutory Form Power of Attorney" for property and finances (C.R.S. 15-14-741, part of its Uniform Power of Attorney Act). A power of attorney must be signed by the principal, or by another person in the principal's conscious presence at the principal's direction; the signature is presumed genuine if the principal acknowledges it before a notary public (C.R.S. 15-14-705). The statutory form does not cover health care decisions; those are made through a medical durable power of attorney, which can set out an agent's authority to consent to or refuse medical treatment (C.R.S. 15-14-506).