Power of Attorney Acceptance and Refusal Rules in Connecticut

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Covered power and timing

The procedure concerns a power purportedly verified before a notary, Superior Court commissioner or another authorized acknowledger (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-350r(a)). Chapter 15c excludes health-care powers and several other specialized powers (§ 1-350b). After presentation, the recipient generally must accept or request allowed proof within seven business days (§ 1-350s(a)(1)), subject to subsection (b).

Requests and later response

A recipient may request an agent certification, an English translation if the power includes another language, or an opinion of counsel on a legal matter if the recipient records its reason (§ 1-350r(d)). A translation or opinion is at the principal’s expense unless requested more than seven business days after presentation (§ 1-350r(e)); the statute does not name a different payer for a late request. After proof arrives, acceptance is generally due within five business days (§ 1-350s(a)(2)), subject to subsection (b).

Refusal and remedy

The refusal exceptions include the principal’s ineligibility or lack of qualification for the transaction, state or federal-law conflict, known termination, refusal to provide requested proof, a good-faith validity or agent-authority concern, and a report to the named Department of Social Services division based on a good-faith belief of possible abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment (§ 1-350s(b)). A probate court or court of general jurisdiction can order acceptance after a violation; the court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing party (§ 1-350s(c)).

What trips people up

A recipient cannot require a different form for authority already granted (§ 1-350s(a)(3)). Another law applicable to a financial institution or other entity controls if inconsistent with Chapter 15c (§ 1-350u). The fee provision is discretionary and favors the prevailing party; it is not an automatic award to the agent.

Common questions

Must a refusal explain itself in writing? Section 1-350s does not impose a general written rejection procedure. A counsel-opinion request, however, must record its reason (§ 1-350r(d)(3)).

Is a government form always covered? No. Chapter 15c excludes a power on a government-prescribed form for a governmental purpose (§ 1-350b(4)).

Statutes and sources

Current Connecticut General Assembly Chapter 15c, accessed October 4, 2026.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-350b. “Sec. 1-350b. Applicability. The provisions of sections 1-350 to 1-353b, inclusive, apply to all powers of attorney except: (1) A power to the extent it is coupled with an interest in the subject of the power, including a power given to or for the benefit of a creditor in connection with a credit transaction; (2) A power to make health care decisions; (3) A proxy or other delegation to exercise voting rights or management rights with respect to an entity; and (4) A power created on a form prescribed by a government or governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality for a governmental purpose.” Official statute (accessed October 4, 2026).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-350r. “Sec. 1-350r. Acceptance of and reliance upon acknowledged power of attorney. (a) For purposes of this section and section 1-350s, “acknowledged” means purportedly verified before a notary public, a commissioner of the Superior Court or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments. (b) A person that in good faith accepts an acknowledged power of attorney without actual knowledge that the signature is not genuine may rely upon the presumption under section 1-350d that the signature is genuine. (c) A person that in good faith accepts an acknowledged power of attorney without actual knowledge that the power of attorney is void, invalid, or terminated, that the purported agent's authority is void, invalid, or terminated, or that the agent is exceeding or improperly exercising the agent's authority may rely upon the power of attorney as if the power of attorney were genuine, valid and still in effect, the agent's authority were genuine, valid and still in effect, and the agent had not exceeded and had properly exercised the authority. (d) A person that is asked to accept an acknowledged power of attorney may request, and rely upon, without further investigation: (1) An agent's certification under penalty of perjury of any factual matter concerning the principal, agent or power of attorney; (2) An English translation of the power of attorney if the power of attorney contains, in whole or in part, language other than English; and (3) An opinion of counsel as to any matter of law concerning the power of attorney if the person making the request provides in a writing or other record the reason for the request. (e) An English translation or an opinion of counsel requested under this section must be provided at the principal's expense unless the request is made more than seven business days after the power of attorney is presented for acceptance. (f) For purposes of this section and section 1-350s, a person that conducts activities through an employee is without actual knowledge of a fact relating to: (1) A power of attorney, (2) a principal, or (3) an agent if the employee conducting the activity involving such power of attorney, principal or agent is without actual knowledge of the fact.” Official statute (accessed October 4, 2026).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-350s. “Sec. 1-350s. Liability for refusal to accept acknowledged power of attorney. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section: (1) A person shall either accept an acknowledged power of attorney or request a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under subsection (d) of section 1-350r not later than seven business days after presentation of the power of attorney for acceptance; (2) If a person requests a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under subsection (d) of section 1-350r, the person shall accept the power of attorney not later than five business days after receipt of the certification, translation, or opinion of counsel; and (3) A person may not require an additional or different form of power of attorney for authority granted in the power of attorney presented. (b) A person is not required to accept an acknowledged power of attorney if: (1) The principal is not otherwise eligible or is not otherwise qualified to enter the transaction with the person; (2) Engaging in a transaction with the agent or the principal in the same circumstances would be inconsistent with state or federal law; (3) The person has actual knowledge of the termination of the agent's authority or of the power of attorney before exercise of the power; (4) A request for a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under subsection (d) of section 1-350r is refused; (5) The person in good faith believes that the power is not valid or that the agent does not have the authority to perform the act requested, whether or not a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under subsection (d) of section 1-350r has been requested or provided; or (6) The person makes, or has actual knowledge that another person has made, a report to the Bureau of Aging, Community and Social Work Services Division of the Department of Social Services stating a good faith belief that the principal may be subject to physical or financial abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment by the agent or a person acting for or with the agent. (c) A person that refuses in violation of this section to accept an acknowledged power of attorney is subject to an order by a probate court or by a court of general jurisdiction mandating acceptance of the power of attorney. The court may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred to the prevailing party in such action.” Official statute (accessed October 4, 2026).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-350u. “Sec. 1-350u. Laws applicable to financial institutions or other entities. The provisions of sections 1-350 to 1-353b, inclusive, do not supersede any other law applicable to financial institutions or other entities, and the other law controls if inconsistent with the provisions of sections 1-350 to 1-353b, inclusive.” Official statute (accessed October 4, 2026).