What Is a Missouri Minor (Child) Power of Attorney?
A Missouri minor (child) power of attorney lets parents appoint a trusted individual (the “attorney-in-fact”) to take care of their child temporarily. This document grants the agent broad powers related to the child’s education and healthcare while the parents are unavailable.
Parents can complete this form to grant specific powers, such as consent for dental treatment or access to school records. The agent is only allowed to make decisions within the constraints of the document.
A MO minor POA helps parents ensure their child has a caretaker when they’re ill, on vacation, or serving in the military. It does not terminate parental rights. Instead, it allows a nominated agent to step in where needed. The agent is barred from certain powers, including consenting to adoption, marriage, or an abortion.
Signing Requirements for a Missouri Minor Power of Attorney
Both parents must sign a Missouri minor power of attorney before a notary public (MO Rev Stat § 475.604). It may be acceptable for one parent to sign if they have sole custody of the child or if the other parent is unavailable. If the latter is true, the signing parent should include evidence of their attempts to contact the unresponsive parent.
How Long Does a Missouri Power of Attorney for a Minor Child Last?
A Missouri power of attorney for a minor child can last up to one year, per MO Rev Stat § 475.602. A parent can list specific start and end dates, but they must not be more than a year apart.
There is an exception for parents who are serving active military duty. Their Missouri minor POAs can last as long as their active duty service plus 30 days.
What to Include in a Missouri Minor Power of Attorney
Missouri law (MO Rev Stat § 475.604) outlines the key information that must be included in a Missouri minor power of attorney:
- The child’s full name and date of birth
- The attorney-in-fact’s full name and signature
- The attorney-in-fact’s address and phone number
- The parent’s (or legal guardian’s) full name and signature
- A description of the time for which the delegation is being made
- Either statement listed in subsection 6 of MO Rev Stat § 475.604
- A statement that the delegation can be revoked at any time (you can use a Missouri revocation of power of attorney form to revoke any minor POA)
Sample Missouri Power of Attorney for a Minor Child
View an example of a Missouri power of attorney for a minor child to see how to structure yours. Create your own using Legal Templates’s guided form, then download it in PDF or Word format. We help you create copies you can share with interested parties, including medical facilities and schools.
