§ 58-1072.2. Execution - Witnesses - Presumptions - Validity of prior powers.

A.  A durable power of attorney may be executed in accordance with the following provisions; provided, however, failure to execute a power of attorney as prescribed in this section shall not be construed to diminish the effect or validity of an otherwise properly executed durable power of attorney:

1.  The principal shall sign the power of attorney at its end, or, if the principal is unable, some other person shall subscribe his name thereto in his presence and by his direction.  The principal, or such other person, shall sign in the presence of two witnesses, each of whom shall sign his name in the presence of the principal and each other;

2.  The witnesses shall not be:

a.under eighteen (18) years of age,

b.related to the principal by blood or marriage, or

c.the attorney-in-fact or anyone related to the attorney-in-fact by blood or marriage; and

3.  The execution of the power of attorney shall be in substantially the following form:

Signed:_________________________

(Principal's signature)

City, County, and State of Residence

____________________________________

____________________________________

The principal is personally known to me and I believe the principal to be of sound mind.  I am eighteen (18) years of age or older.  I am not related to the principal by blood or marriage, or related to the attorney-in-fact by blood or marriage.  The principal has declared to me that this instrument is his power of attorney granting to the named attorney-in-fact the power and authority specified herein, and that he has willingly made and executed it as his free and voluntary act for the purposes herein expressed.

Witness:_________________________

Witness:_________________________

STATE OF OKLAHOMA    )

) SS.

COUNTY OF____________)

Before me, the undersigned authority, on this ____ day of _______________, 19____, personally appeared ____________________ (principal), _________________________ (witness), and _____________ (witness), whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument in their respective capacities, and all of said persons being by me duly sworn, the principal declared to me and to the said witnesses in my presence that the instrument is his or her power of attorney, and that the principal has willingly and voluntarily made and executed it as the free act and deed of the principal for the purposes therein expressed, and the witnesses declared to me that they were each eighteen (18) years of age or over, and that neither of them is related to the principal by blood or marriage, or related to the attorney-in-fact by blood or marriage.

____________________________

Notary Public

My Commission Expires:

______________________

B.  Execution of a durable power of attorney in substantially the form prescribed by this section shall create a presumption that the principal understands the nature and purpose of the power of attorney and has executed the same while being of sound mind, and of his free will.  A person dealing with the attorney-in-fact shall not be required to inquire into the validity or adequacy of the execution of the power of attorney, nor shall any such person be required to inquire into the validity or propriety of any act of an attorney-in-fact apparently authorized by a power of attorney executed pursuant to this section.

C.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 26 of Title 16 of the Oklahoma Statutes, county clerks shall record any durable power of attorney executed in substantially the form prescribed in subsection A of this section.

D.  All powers of attorney executed prior to September 1, 1992, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1051 through 1062 of Title 58 of the Oklahoma Statutes or the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act shall be valid.  All durable powers of attorney established on or after September 1, 1992, shall be executed pursuant to the provisions of the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act.

E.  A power of attorney executed in another state shall be considered valid for purposes of the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act if the power of attorney and the execution of the power of attorney substantially comply with the requirements of the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act.

F.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect powers of attorney established pursuant to common law.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 274, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1992.