How to Endorse a Government Check as Power of Attorney (POA)

When you have been granted power of attorney (POA) for someone, you may need to endorse government checks on their behalf. The proper way to do this is by following a few simple steps:

Signing the Check
There are two accepted methods for endorsing a check as a POA:
Sign the Person’s Name First

Sign the person’s name for whom you have POA, followed by “by [your name], under POA.”
For example: “John Doe by Jane Smith, under POA.”

Sign Your Own Name First

Sign your own name first, then identify yourself as “attorney-in-fact for [the person’s name for whom you are attorney-in-fact].”
For example: “Jane Smith, attorney-in-fact for John Doe.”

According to the American Bar Association, both of these methods are acceptable ways to endorse a government check as a POA.

Proper Documentation

When endorsing checks as a POA, it’s important to have the proper documentation on hand. This typically includes:

A copy of the power of attorney document that grants you authority to act on the person’s behalf
Identification for both yourself and the person for whom you have POA
Any other supporting documents required by the financial institution where you are depositing or cashing the check

Following the correct endorsement procedures and having the necessary documentation will help ensure a smooth transaction when depositing or cashing government checks as a POA.