Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 404.705 (2026)

Durable power of attorney, procedure to create, requirements, effect, recording not required, exception

✓ current as of May 2026
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  404.705.  Durable power of attorney, procedure to create, requirements, effect, recording not required, exception — person appointed has no duty to exercise authority conferred, exception. — 1.  The authority granted by a principal to an attorney in fact in a written power of attorney is not terminated in the event the principal becomes wholly or partially disabled or incapacitated or in the event of later uncertainty as to whether the principal is dead or alive if:

  (1)  The power of attorney is denominated a "Durable Power of Attorney";

  (2)  The power of attorney includes a provision that states in substance one of the following:

  (a)  "THIS IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND THE AUTHORITY OF MY ATTORNEY IN FACT SHALL NOT TERMINATE IF I BECOME DISABLED OR INCAPACITATED OR IN THE EVENT OF LATER UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER I AM DEAD OR ALIVE"; or

  (b)  "THIS IS A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND THE AUTHORITY OF MY ATTORNEY IN FACT, WHEN EFFECTIVE, SHALL NOT TERMINATE OR BE VOID OR VOIDABLE IF I AM OR BECOME DISABLED OR INCAPACITATED OR IN THE EVENT OF LATER UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER I AM DEAD OR ALIVE"; and

  (3)  The power of attorney is subscribed by the principal, and dated and acknowledged in the manner prescribed by law for conveyances of real estate.

  2.  All acts done by an attorney in fact pursuant to a durable power of attorney shall inure to the benefit of and bind the principal and the principal's successors in interest, notwithstanding any disability or incapacity of the principal or any uncertainty as to whether the principal is dead or alive.

  3.  A durable power of attorney does not have to be recorded to be valid and binding between the principal and attorney in fact or between the principal and third persons, except to the extent that recording may be required for transactions affecting real estate under sections 442.360 and 442.370.

  4.  A person who is appointed an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney has no duty to exercise the authority conferred in the power of attorney, whether or not the principal has become disabled or incapacitated, is missing or is held in a foreign country, unless the attorney in fact has agreed expressly in writing to act for the principal in such circumstances.  An agreement to act on behalf of the principal is enforceable against the attorney in fact as a fiduciary without regard to whether there is any consideration to support a contractual obligation to do so.  Acting for the principal in one or more transactions does not obligate an attorney in fact to act for the principal in subsequent transactions.

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(L. 1989 H.B. 145 § 3, A.L. 1997 S.B. 265)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2009–2023 · leading case: Lawrence v. Beverly Manor, 273 S.W.3d 525 (Mo. 2009).
Lawrence v. Beverly Manor, 273 S.W.3d 525 (Mo. 2009). · cites it 4× “This reasoning requires this Court to find that by signing on behalf of her mother, Skoglund also was signing on her own behalf and on behalf of the wrongful death plaintiffs.”
Ridley-McKinney v. Shoemaker, 405 S.W.3d 602 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “714, section 404.705, subsections 1 and 2 of section 404.”
Johnie Frank Adeluola Lipede Jones (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 2021). · cites it 4× “The statute delineates the three primary requirements to create a written durable power of attorney: (1) denomination of the power of attorney as a “Durable Power of Attorney”; (2) inclusion of language substantially in the form set out in the statute regarding the effect of the…”
Jerry Sugg & Barbara Sugg (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 2021). · cites it 2× “Missouri Revised Statute § 404.705 establishes the method to create a durable power of attorney that remains valid and permits an attorney in fact to act notwithstanding a principal’s incapacity under Missouri law.”
Carlos Alberto Rivas & Tamara Lynn Rivas (Bankr. E.D. Mo. 2023). · cites it 2× “See § 404.705, RSMo. It also grants Tamara “general authority to act” for Carlos with respect to “Claims and Litigation.”
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