A power of attorney with exactly the powers you mean to give
A power of attorney (POA) lets someone you trust — the attorney — act in your name: look after a flat, let it out, deal with the bank or a government office, or present documents for registration. This free power of attorney generator drafts a special or general POA for India under the Powers of Attorney Act, 1882, with the powers you tick written out in full, so the attorney can do what you need and nothing more.
It is built for the common case of an NRI who needs a parent or sibling to act in India, and for elderly parents who want a child to handle paperwork. Everything stays in your browser. It is a draft, not legal advice — a lawyer should check it, above all when it includes a power to sell property.
How to use the Power of Attorney Generator
- Choose a special or general POA, and tick “I live outside India” if you will sign it abroad.
- Enter your details and the attorney’s — name, father’s or spouse’s name, age and address.
- Tick the powers you want to give, describe the property and bank account if they are involved, and add any other power on its own line.
- Set an end date if you want one, add the stamp paper value once you know your state’s duty, and fill in the witnesses.
- Download, print on the stamp paper, sign before a notary, Sub-Registrar or Indian consul as needed, and give the original to your attorney.
Power of Attorney Generator features
Ready-written powers
Manage, let or sell property, operate a bank account, registration, government offices and court cases — each in clear legal wording.
NRI mode
Adds the clause for signing abroad and a box for the Indian Embassy, Consulate or notary attestation.
Sensible safeguards
Sale money goes only to your own account; the power ends on your death; ratification and an optional end date.
Warnings that matter
Flags the registration rule for sale powers, and the three-month stamping deadline for a POA signed abroad.
Stamp box, witnesses, acceptance
Space for the stamp paper, two witnesses and the attorney’s signature accepting the appointment.
Signing and using a power of attorney in India (as of 30 October 2026)
Sources: the Registration Act, 1908 (text from the Uttarakhand registration department, read 30 October 2026) for sections 18 and 33; the Indian Stamp Act s.18 rule, the s.84 presumption and the Suraj Lamps judgment were checked through law reports and commentary (secondary sources). A 2025 Kerala High Court ruling held that a power of attorney notarised in a country that is not a “reciprocating country” under the Notaries Act does not get the s.84 presumption — attestation by the Indian Consul is the safer route. No stamp duty amounts are built in, because they change by state.
| Situation | What to do | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| You live in India; the POA will be used to register documents | Sign it before the Sub-Registrar of your area | Registration Act, 1908, s.33(1)(a) |
| You live abroad | Sign before a notary, a court, or the Indian Consul / Vice-Consul | s.33(1)(c); presumption of due execution under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, s.84 (formerly Evidence Act s.85) |
| Signed abroad, used in India | Pay Indian stamp duty within three months of first receiving it in India | Indian Stamp Act, 1899, s.18 (and the state stamp acts) |
| A power to sell immovable property | Usually must be registered; check your state | State amendments to Registration Act s.17 |
| Stamp duty amount | Set by each state — often different for special, general and sale POAs | State stamp acts |
Special or general — which should you use?
A special power of attorney names particular acts — let this flat, register that document. A general one covers a wide range of your affairs. Banks and registrars are usually more comfortable with a special POA that clearly covers the transaction, and it limits the risk to you. A power of attorney is not a way to transfer property: the Supreme Court held in Suraj Lamps & Industries v. State of Haryana (2011) that “GPA sales” do not pass ownership. To decide who inherits your property, use the will generator; for a sworn statement the registrar asks for, use the affidavit format.
Power of Attorney Generator FAQ
What is the format of a power of attorney?
The principal’s details, the attorney’s details, the list of powers, ratification and validity clauses, signatures and witnesses — printed on stamp paper of your state’s value. This power of attorney generator lays it out in that order.
How does an NRI give power of attorney to a parent in India?
Draft it here with the NRI option, sign it before the Indian Embassy or Consulate (or a notary, with apostille where needed), send it to India, and have it stamped there within three months.
Does a power of attorney need to be registered?
Not always. It is required for some purposes, especially powers to sell immovable property in many states, and a POA used to present documents for registration must be executed as section 33 of the Registration Act says.
How much is the stamp duty on a power of attorney?
It depends on the state and the kind of POA. Check the current rate with your state’s registration department or a stamp vendor before buying the paper.
When does a power of attorney end?
When you revoke it, when the period you set runs out, or on your death. Revoke it in writing and inform the bank or office where it was used.
Can the attorney sell my property without telling me?
Only if you give a power to sell. Leave that box unticked unless you mean it, and keep sale money going to your own account.