Power of Attorney – General is a form published by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk in which you appoint an attorney to act for you in money, property and business matters. It is listed among the county's Recorder forms, on the same forms page that carries the Assessor's forms, so it is one of the documents people look for alongside San Bernardino County property tax paperwork. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The county publishes the original PDF at arc.sbcounty.gov.
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What is Power of Attorney – General – San Bernardino County, CA?
Power of Attorney – General is a two-page form in which the undersigned, "jointly or severally, if more than one," appoint a person as their true and lawful attorney to act for them, in their name and for their benefit, across a list of general powers.
The printed text grants six categories of power:
- (a) to ask for, sue for, recover, collect and receive money, debts and other amounts owed to you, and to sign a satisfaction or release and compromise claims;
- (b) to deal with real property, including buying, leasing, selling, exchanging, conveying and mortgaging it;
- (c) to deal with personal property and goods, including buying, selling and encumbering them;
- (d) to borrow and lend money and sign notes;
- (e) to create, amend and terminate trusts, vote stock and settle obligations;
- (f) to sign deeds, leases, mortgages, deeds of trust, releases, requests for reconveyance and similar instruments.
The form then gives the attorney full power to do what you could do if personally present, applies the powers to all real and personal property now owned or acquired later, wherever located, and lets the attorney decide the timing, purpose and manner of using them.
The top of page 1 has a recording-request block with a "Space above this line for Recorder's use only." Page 2 ends with a California notary acknowledgment certificate. The county lists the form under Recorder. It is not the Assessor's AEO-011: Agent Authorization, a separate form on the same page. A note at the bottom says there are various types of forms depending on each person's legal status and suggests consulting an attorney if you are unsure which document fits your transaction.
Who needs to file Power of Attorney – General – San Bernardino County, CA?
The main group is an individual who wants to authorize another person to handle money, real property, personal property, trusts or business transactions on their behalf under the general powers printed on the form. More than one person may sign as grantor: the form says "jointly or severally, if more than one."
The form itself warns that there are various types of forms depending on each person's legal status, and suggests consulting an attorney before using it if you have questions about which document suits your transaction. Take that seriously if you want to limit the powers, since the printed text covers all six categories (a) through (f) and applies to all property now owned or acquired later.
The person you appoint is called the attorney on the form. The form does not describe who may sign on behalf of someone else. The notary or other officer completes the acknowledgment certificate, and that certificate confirms only the signer's identity, not the truthfulness, accuracy or validity of the document.
This is not an Assessor form for property owners dealing with assessments or exemptions. The county's forms page lists it under Recorder.
When to file Power of Attorney – General – San Bernardino County, CA
The form prints no deadline. You complete it when you decide to appoint an attorney, and you date it in the space marked Dated. The notary or other officer fills in the acknowledgment certificate with the date of your appearance, so you sign when the notary is able to complete that certificate. The form says the powers apply to all real and personal property you now own or acquire later, wherever located, so you do not need to list each asset or complete a new form when you acquire more property. Because the form includes a recording-request block, check with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk about timing if you intend to record it.
Documents you need
- Satisfactory evidence of your identity for the notary or other officer, because the acknowledgment certificate states that the signer proved identity to the officer on that basis.
How to fill out Power of Attorney – General – San Bernardino County, CA
Complete the recording request block
At the top of page 1, enter the name, street address, and city, state and ZIP code to which the recorded document should be mailed after recording. Leave the space marked for the Recorder's use only empty.
Add title or escrow numbers if used
Enter the TITLE ORDER NO. and ESCROW NO. in the spaces provided when a title company or escrow is involved with your transaction.
Enter the name of the person granting power
After "KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS: That I," write the name of the undersigned. If more than one person signs, the form treats them as acting jointly or severally.
Enter the name of your attorney
After "hereby make, constitute and appoint," write the full name of the person you appoint as your true and lawful attorney.
Read powers (a) through (f)
Review each printed power: collecting money and debts (a), real property (b), personal property (c), borrowing and lending (d), trusts, stock and settlements (e), and signing instruments (f). The text applies to all property you now own or acquire later.
Review the grant on pages 1 and 2
Read the "GIVING AND GRANTING" paragraph and the page 2 paragraph giving the attorney sole discretion over timing, purpose and manner of exercising the powers. Consult an attorney if you have questions about whether this form fits.
Date the form
Enter the date in the space marked Dated on page 2.
Sign the form
Sign as the person granting the powers. Each person granting powers signs.
Leave the notary certificate to the officer
The notary public or other officer completes the state, county, date, officer name and title, name of the person signing, signature and seal. Bring satisfactory evidence of your identity.
Review, download and print
Check names, the recording block and the date, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and take it to the notary before delivering it as described under How to submit.
How to submit Power of Attorney – General – San Bernardino County, CA
The form prints no submission channel or address of its own. It has a recording-request block (RECORDING REQUESTED BY AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL DOCUMENT TO) and a SPACE ABOVE THIS LINE FOR RECORDER'S USE ONLY, and the county lists it among its Recorder forms, so it appears designed to be recorded by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
- Recording block: enter the name and mailing address to which the recorded document should be returned.
- County forms page: https://arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/ lists the Recorder forms, including a Fee Schedule (Recorder-County Clerk) and a Document Cover Sheet. Ask the office whether either applies to your recording and what amount is due; the form states no fee.
- Before delivery: the signature and the notary acknowledgment must be completed.
Ask the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk's office which in-person or mail options it offers for recording. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the county's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filling in the notary acknowledgment yourself; the officer completes the state, county, date, officer name and title, signer name, signature and seal.
- Leaving the recording-request block blank, so the recorded document has no name and address to be mailed back to.
- Writing in the space above the line reserved for the Recorder's use only.
- Assuming the notary vouches for the document; the certificate says the officer verifies only the signer's identity, not its truthfulness, accuracy or validity.
- Assuming you can limit the powers by leaving items blank; the printed text grants powers (a) through (f) and applies to all property now owned or acquired later.
- Using this general form without checking whether it fits your legal status or transaction, when the form itself says to consider consulting an attorney.
- Leaving the Dated line or the appointed attorney's name blank.
- Mixing this form up with the Assessor's AEO-011: Agent Authorization, a different form listed on the county's forms page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Power of Attorney – General form from San Bernardino County?
It is a form published by the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk in which you appoint an attorney to act for you. The printed powers cover collecting money, real and personal property, borrowing and lending, trusts and stock, and signing instruments. It includes a recording block and a notary acknowledgment.
Does the Power of Attorney – General form need to be notarized?
The form ends with a California notary acknowledgment certificate that a notary public or other officer completes after you appear and prove your identity. The certificate verifies only your identity, not the truthfulness, accuracy or validity of the document.
Is the Power of Attorney – General a San Bernardino County property tax form?
No. The county lists it under Recorder, although its powers include dealing with real property. It sits on the same county forms page as Assessor forms, where San Bernardino County property tax forms such as exemption claims and assessment appeal applications are listed.
Can I limit what my attorney can do on this form?
The printed text grants powers (a) through (f) and applies them to all real and personal property you own now or acquire later. The form does not provide a way to limit them. It suggests consulting an attorney if you have questions about which document is appropriate.
Where do I record the Power of Attorney – General?
The form prints no address or channel, but it has a recording-request block, and the county lists it as a Recorder form. Contact the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, and use the forms page at https://arc.sbcounty.gov/forms-fees/, for recording options and fees.
Does this power of attorney cover property I buy later?
Yes. The form says the powers apply to all real and personal property or interests in it now owned or hereafter acquired by you, wherever located, so you do not need to list assets individually.
Can I fill out the Power of Attorney – General online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service: it does not notarize, record or file the document with the county, and you still need to sign before a notary and deliver it through the county's channels.
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