How to Revoke Power of Attorney in Colorado

Circumstances change. Maybe the agent you appointed is making decisions you disagree with. Maybe family dynamics have shifted and you want to name a different person. Or maybe you've recovered from a health event and no longer need someone acting on your behalf.

Colorado law allows the principal — the person who signed the power of attorney — to revoke it at any time, provided they still have the mental capacity to do so.

Requirements for a Valid Revocation

Under Colorado's Uniform Power of Attorney Act (C.R.S. § 15-14-710), a power of attorney terminates when the principal revokes it. The revocation must be communicated clearly, and there are practical steps to ensure it's enforceable.

Step 1: Put it in writing. While Colorado doesn't strictly require a written revocation, oral revocations are nearly impossible to enforce. Draft a written revocation statement that includes:

• Your full legal name
• A clear statement that you are revoking the power of attorney
• The date the original POA was executed
• The name of the agent being removed
• Your signature
• The date of revocation

Step 2: Notarize the revocation. If the original POA was notarized (required for financial POAs), the revocation should be notarized as well to match the formality level.

Step 3: Notify the agent directly. Deliver a copy of the written revocation to the agent in person or via certified mail with return receipt. Until the agent receives actual notice of the revocation, they can continue to act under the POA — and third parties who rely on the agent's authority in good faith are protected.

Who Else Needs to Know

Notifying your agent is necessary but not sufficient. You must also notify every institution that has a copy of the original POA on file:

• Banks and financial institutions
• Investment firms and brokerages
• Healthcare providers and hospitals
• Insurance companies
• Real estate title companies
• Government agencies (Social Security, VA, state benefits offices)

Send each institution a copy of the revocation along with a letter requesting they remove the prior POA from their records. Keep copies of all correspondence.

For real property: If the original financial POA was recorded with a county clerk and recorder, record the revocation with the same office. Without this step, title companies searching public records will still find the active POA.

What If the Principal Has Lost Capacity?

A principal who has lost mental capacity cannot revoke a power of attorney — they lack the legal ability to make that decision. If you're a family member concerned about POA abuse by the appointed agent, your options are:

• File a petition with the court asking a judge to revoke the POA, terminate the agent's authority, and appoint a guardian or conservator
• Report suspected exploitation to Colorado Adult Protective Services (APS) through the statewide hotline
• Contact law enforcement if you believe the agent has committed financial crimes

The court can remove an agent who has breached their fiduciary duties, mismanaged assets, or acted outside the scope of their authority.

Transactions Already Completed

Revoking a POA terminates future authority but generally does not undo transactions the agent completed before receiving notice of the revocation. If the agent acted within their authority at the time, those transactions remain valid.

If the agent exceeded their authority or committed fraud before the revocation, those transactions may be challenged in court — but that's a separate legal proceeding, not an automatic effect of the revocation.

Appointing a New Agent

Revoking one POA doesn't automatically create a new one. If you still need someone to manage your finances or healthcare, execute a new power of attorney immediately after the revocation. Make sure the new document explicitly states it supersedes all prior POAs.

The Colorado Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit covers both the execution and revocation process, including notification templates for financial institutions and healthcare providers.

See more Colorado guides →