Last reviewed September 19, 2026. Official North Carolina sources are linked below.
General powers of attorney are acknowledged
North Carolina General Statute 32C-1-105 says a power of attorney governed by Chapter 32C must be signed by the principal, or in the principal's conscious presence as permitted by the statute, and acknowledged. The statute provides a presumption of genuineness when the principal acknowledges the signature before a notary public or another person authorized to take acknowledgments.
Health care powers of attorney are different
North Carolina's statutory health care power-of-attorney rules are separate. The statutory form instructions call for the principal's signature to be witnessed by two qualified witnesses and proved by a notary public. If you are using a health care POA, follow the document's witness instructions carefully rather than assuming the rules are the same as a general financial POA.
Read the North Carolina health care POA statute ↗
Before you visit
- Bring the complete power-of-attorney document
- Bring qualifying identification
- Bring any witnesses the document requires, unless you have confirmed witness availability with us first
- Do not ask the notary to choose or draft a power-of-attorney form
A non-attorney notary cannot tell you which POA you should use, decide what powers to grant, or provide legal advice. Those questions belong with an attorney or the organization that supplied the document.
Need witness service?
An eligible witness may be available for $5 per witness signature, but document-specific witness qualifications still apply. Call ahead rather than assuming a store witness will qualify for your document.
See other common documents → · Can I sign before I arrive? →