How to Fill Out Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney + FAQs

The Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is a written legal document that lets you (the principal) name another person (your agent or attorney-in-fact) to manage your money, property, and business affairs, and it stays in effect even if you later become incapacitated. Texas law sets the exact wording of this form in Texas Estates Code §752.051, and the most recent statutory revision took effect September 1, 2017, with technical updates carried through the current code.

Getting any field wrong can cost you. Banks routinely reject Texas powers of attorney for missing initials, wrong notary blocks, or vague special instructions, and a 2023 AARP survey found that roughly 36% of family caregivers report being turned away at least once when trying to use a POA at a bank or brokerage.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📝 How to fill out every line of the Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney without guessing.
• 🏦 How to keep your form from being rejected by Texas banks, title companies, and brokerages.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 How to name agents, co-agents, and successor agents the right way.
• ⚖️ How Texas Estates Code Chapters (https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ES/htm/ES.751.htm) and (https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ES/htm/ES.752.htm) shape your powers and limits.
• 🛡️ How to avoid the ten most common mistakes that trigger guardianship, fraud, or family fights.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

A Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is a financial power of attorney authorized by the Durable Power of Attorney Act in Chapter 751 of the Texas Estates Code. It gives your chosen agent the legal authority to handle money matters such as banking, real estate, taxes, retirement accounts, insurance, and business operations. The word durable means the document stays valid if you lose mental capacity, which is the whole point of signing one before a crisis.

This form is not a medical power of attorney. Health care decisions are handled separately under the Texas Medical Power of Attorney governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 166. You also do not “file” a financial POA with a state agency. You sign it, have it notarized, and deliver copies to the people and institutions that need it. You only record it with the county clerk when your agent will sell, buy, or mortgage real estate, as required by Texas Estates Code §751.151.

Most filers fall into one of these groups: older Texans planning for incapacity, adult children helping aging parents, married couples doing estate planning, military members deploying overseas, snowbirds splitting time between Texas and another state, and small business owners who need someone to sign checks while they travel. The form works the same for each, but the special instructions section is where each group should tailor the document.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything before you open the form. Filling in one box at a time without your records leads to mistakes that banks will catch and reject. Texas notaries also will not guess what you mean, so missing details usually mean a second trip and another notary fee.

Use this pre-filing checklist:

• Your full legal name as printed on your driver license or passport, because banks match names character by character.
• Your current Texas residence address, since the form is read under Texas law and venue may matter later.
• Your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security number, used by financial institutions to verify identity.
• The full legal name, address, and phone number of your chosen agent, because Texas Estates Code §751.022 requires a clear identification of the agent.
• The full legal names and addresses of any co-agents or successor agents, so the chain of authority is unbroken.
• A list of your financial accounts, real estate, and business interests, which helps you decide which powers to initial.
• A current government-issued photo ID for the notary appointment, required by Texas Government Code §406.014.
• The legal description of any Texas real property the agent may handle, copied from your deed for later recording.
• Any physician letter template you plan to use if you choose a springing power that becomes effective only upon incapacity.
• A copy of any prior power of attorney you signed, so you can revoke it cleanly and avoid two valid documents at once.

Meet with your agent before signing. Confirm they will serve, that they understand Texas Estates Code §751.101 fiduciary duties, and that they accept the responsibility. An agent who refuses later can stall your finances at the worst time.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official statutory form lives inside the Texas Estates Code itself. You can copy it directly from Texas Estates Code §752.051, which is the only version guaranteed to match Texas law word for word. The Texas State Law Library hosts a clean fill-in version and plain-English guides, and the State Bar of Texas publishes consumer pamphlets that explain each section.

You may type your information directly into a PDF or print the form and write by hand in dark blue or black ink. Banks prefer typed forms because handwriting causes verification delays. If you use software such as the form bundled with Texas Legal Aid TexasLawHelp or attorney drafting platforms, confirm that the powers list matches the most recent statutory wording, since the legislature updated language in 2017 and added clarifications afterward.

You do not need a lawyer to access the form, but a Texas-licensed estate planning attorney can tailor the special instructions and add gift-giving, trust-funding, or beneficiary-changing powers that the statutory form does not grant by default. The Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service connects you with vetted attorneys for a flat-fee consult.

If your agent will handle real property, plan to record the signed original with the county clerk in the county where the property sits, using the Texas county clerk directory. Recording fees usually run $26 for the first page and $4 per additional page in most Texas counties.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney Line by Line

The statutory form has a header, a designation of agent, a list of powers to initial, a special instructions block, an effective date choice, a section on agent compensation and reliance, signature lines, and a notary acknowledgment. Each part has its own field, and each field has its own rules. Skipping or fudging any one field can void the whole document.

Field 1: Title and Notice at the Top of the Form

The form begins with the heading “Statutory Durable Power of Attorney” followed by a bold “NOTICE” paragraph mandated by Texas Estates Code §752.051. You do not change this language. You read it.

How to handle it: Read the entire notice aloud before signing anything below it. The notice warns that you are giving broad powers and that you can revoke at any time.

Example: Maria Lopez, age 72, prints the form, reads the notice with her daughter, and initials nothing in the notice block because no signature is required there.

Nuance: Some online form vendors shorten the notice. If yours is shorter than the version printed in §752.051, throw it out and use the statutory version, because banks compare notices line by line.

Common mistake and consequence: People skim the notice and then sign powers they did not understand, like the unlimited authority to sell real estate, leading to family disputes and even elder-fraud claims under Texas Penal Code §32.53.

Misconception: Many believe the notice is “boilerplate.” It is the legally required disclosure that protects you, and a missing or altered notice is a top reason banks reject Texas POAs.

Field 2: Designation of Principal (Your Name and Address)

This is the line that says “I, __, appoint __ as my agent (attorney-in-fact).” You fill in your full legal name and address.

How to handle it: Write your name exactly as it appears on your Texas driver license or state ID. Use middle name or middle initial consistently across all estate planning documents. Add your full mailing address with city, state, and ZIP.

Example: John Robert Davis, 1422 Pecan Street, Austin, Texas 78704 writes his name and address in the principal block in print.

Nuance: If you go by a nickname, list your legal name first, then “a/k/a” and the nickname. Banks search exact strings.

Common mistake and consequence: Using a married surname on the form when accounts are still in your maiden name. The bank will block the agent because the names do not match the signature card.

Misconception: People think a “close enough” name works. Texas Estates Code §751.0021 requires acknowledgment before a notary, and the notary will compare your name to your ID.

Field 3: Designation of Agent

The next blank names the person you trust to act for you. Texas allows any competent adult, but you should choose someone organized, honest, and reachable.

How to handle it: Print the agent’s full legal name and complete address. Add a phone number in the margin or under the name, even though the statutory form does not require it, because financial institutions ask for it.

Example: Sandra Lopez Garcia, 305 Live Oak Lane, Round Rock, Texas 78664 is named by Maria Lopez as her agent.

Nuance: You may name a financial institution or a trust company as agent, but most Texas banks will not serve unless you have a private wealth relationship.

Common mistake and consequence: Naming two people on the same agent line without saying whether they act jointly or independently. Texas Estates Code §751.021 presumes co-agents act independently, but banks often demand both signatures when the form is unclear, which slows everything down.

Misconception: Filers think naming a spouse is automatic. Marriage gives no power-of-attorney authority on its own under Texas law, and a spouse needs this signed form to act on solely owned accounts.

Field 4: Successor Agent (Optional but Recommended)

Texas allows you to name one or more successor agents who step in if your first agent dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is unwilling to serve.

How to handle it: Add a special instructions line such as “If Sandra Lopez Garcia is unable or unwilling to serve, I appoint Carlos Lopez, 17 Bluebonnet Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78209, as my successor agent.” Use full name and address for each successor.

Example: Maria lists her son Carlos as the first successor and her sister Elena as the second successor with full addresses.

Nuance: You can require the prior agent to resign in writing before the successor takes over. Add that requirement in the special instructions to prevent overlap.

Common mistake and consequence: Skipping successors entirely, which forces the family to seek a court guardianship under Texas Estates Code Chapter 1101 if the named agent dies before you do.

Misconception: People think a successor automatically has authority. The successor must produce proof, usually a death certificate or written resignation, to the bank before the institution will recognize the change.

Field 5: Grant of Authority — The List of Powers to Initial

The heart of the form is a list of categories of powers. You must initial each category you want to grant. If you want to grant all of them, you initial only the line at the bottom that says “ALL OF THE POWERS LISTED ABOVE.”

The categories are:

• (A) Real property
• (B) Tangible personal property
• (C) Stocks and bonds
• (D) Commodities and options
• (E) Banks and other financial institutions
• (F) Operation of entity or business
• (G) Insurance and annuity transactions
• (H) Estate, trust, and other beneficiary transactions
• (I) Claims and litigation
• (J) Personal and family maintenance
• (K) Benefits from social security, Medicare, Medicaid, or other governmental programs, or civil or military service
• (L) Retirement plan transactions
• (M) Tax matters
• (N) Digital assets and the content of an electronic communication

How to handle it: Place your initials in the line in front of every letter you want to grant. Use the same initials your driver license shows. Do not place an X or check mark, because §752.051 requires initials.

Example: J.R.D. appears next to (A), (E), (M), and (N) for John Davis, who only wants his agent to handle his house, his bank accounts, his taxes, and his email and online accounts.

Nuance: Category (N) on digital assets ties into the Texas Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act in Estates Code Chapter 2001, which controls how providers like Google or Apple respond to your agent.

Common mistake and consequence: Initialing the “ALL” line and individual categories. Banks read this as ambiguous and may reject the form.

Misconception: Filers think initialing (E) lets the agent change beneficiaries on the bank account. It does not. Beneficiary changes require a specific grant in the special instructions per Texas Estates Code §751.031(b).

Field 6: Special Instructions (Limitations and Extensions)

This block lets you customize the form. You can limit a power, expand it, set conditions, or add successor language.

How to handle it: Write clearly and in complete sentences. Use bullet points or numbered paragraphs. Identify accounts, properties, or people by full legal description.

Example: “My agent may sell only the property at 1422 Pecan Street, Austin, Travis County, Texas, legally described as Lot 7, Block B, Pecan Heights Subdivision, and may not sell any other real property.”

Nuance: To grant the so-called hot powers — the authority to make gifts, create or change a trust, change beneficiary designations, change rights of survivorship, or delegate authority — you must say so expressly here, because Texas Estates Code §751.031(b) bars these powers unless specifically granted.

Common mistake and consequence: Vague directions like “do what is best for me.” Banks treat vague language as no grant at all and refuse to act.

Misconception: People believe special instructions can override Texas law. They cannot. You cannot, for example, exempt your agent from the duty to keep records under §751.103.

Field 7: Effective Date — Immediate vs. Springing

You choose between two boxes: the power becomes effective immediately and continues if you become disabled, or it becomes effective only when a physician certifies you are disabled or incapacitated.

How to handle it: Initial only one box. Most Texas estate planners recommend the immediate option because the springing version requires a doctor’s certification, which delays urgent transactions and can be a HIPAA hurdle.

Example: Maria initials the immediate option so Sandra can pay her property taxes without waiting for a hospital admission.

Nuance: If you pick the springing option, attach an authorization that lets your physician release the certification under HIPAA 45 C.F.R. §164.508.

Common mistake and consequence: Initialing both boxes. The form becomes ambiguous, and a title company will not insure a real-estate sale signed under it.

Misconception: People believe springing is “safer.” In practice, the immediate POA simply sits unused until needed and avoids delays during emergencies.

Field 8: Reliance Provision

The form contains a reliance paragraph telling third parties they may rely on the power until they receive notice of revocation, death, or incapacity. You do not write in this block, but you should know it triggers Texas Estates Code §751.201, which protects third parties acting in good faith.

How to handle it: Read the paragraph and confirm it is present and unaltered.

Example: John verifies the reliance paragraph appears word for word above his signature line.

Nuance: Banks may still demand a certification of the agent’s authority under §751.203, which your agent must sign separately when transacting.

Common mistake and consequence: Removing the reliance language to “shorten” the form. Removing it gives banks a reason to refuse.

Misconception: People think the reliance clause forces banks to accept the form. Texas Estates Code §751.206 lists reasons a bank may refuse, including a good-faith belief of fraud or expired authority.

Field 9: Compensation and Reimbursement

The statutory form addresses agent compensation in standard language. By default, the agent is entitled to reasonable expenses but no fee unless the special instructions allow it.

How to handle it: If you want your agent paid, state the rate in the special instructions, such as “My agent shall receive $25 per hour for time spent acting under this power, supported by a written log.”

Example: Aisha, who names her brother Marcus as agent, writes that Marcus is entitled to mileage reimbursement at the IRS standard rate.

Nuance: A paid agent owes a higher duty of care, and the agent’s compensation is taxable income reportable to the IRS.

Common mistake and consequence: Not addressing compensation when the agent is a paid professional. The agent may sue your estate for quantum meruit fees later.

Misconception: People think a family agent cannot be paid. Texas law allows it as long as the document or a separate agreement says so.

Field 10: Signature of Principal

You sign and date at the bottom in the presence of a notary public. Texas Estates Code §751.0021 requires acknowledgment before a notary; witnesses are not required for the financial form, only for the medical form.

How to handle it: Sign your full legal name in cursive that matches your driver license. Print your name on the line beneath if the form provides one. Date the form using MM/DD/YYYY.

Example: John Robert Davis signs and prints his name, then writes 05/21/2026 as the signing date.

Nuance: If you cannot physically sign, Texas allows a directed signature under Texas Government Code §406.0165, where another person signs at your direction in the notary’s presence.

Common mistake and consequence: Signing before reaching the notary. The notary cannot acknowledge a signature that was not made or acknowledged in front of them, voiding the form.

Misconception: People think witnesses make the form stronger. Adding witnesses is harmless but unnecessary for the financial POA.

Field 11: Notary Acknowledgment

The notary completes a Texas-specific acknowledgment block stating that you appeared, were identified, and acknowledged signing the document.

How to handle it: Hand the notary your photo ID. Sign in the notary’s presence (or acknowledge an earlier signature). The notary fills in the venue, date, your name, and applies their seal under Texas Government Code §406.013.

Example: Notary Linda Hayes, Comal County, Texas, completes the block on 05/21/2026, applies her seal, and records the act in her notary journal.

Nuance: Texas allows Remote Online Notarization under Government Code §406.101, which is helpful for snowbirds and military families.

Common mistake and consequence: Using an out-of-state notary on a Texas form intended for Texas real estate. Some Texas counties accept out-of-state acknowledgments only with an apostille or specific compliance language.

Misconception: People think a notary verifies the content of the document. The notary only verifies identity and signature, not legal accuracy.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, 72, Names Her Daughter

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Principal name and address	Maria Elena Lopez, 412 Cypress Bend, New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Agent name and address	Sandra Lopez Garcia, 305 Live Oak Lane, Round Rock, Texas 78664
Successor agent	Carlos Lopez, 17 Bluebonnet Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78209
Powers initialed	(A), (E), (G), (J), (K), (M), (N) — initialed M.E.L.
Special instructions	“My agent may not make gifts exceeding $5,000 per recipient per year.”
Effective date	Initialed immediate option
Signature and date	Maria Elena Lopez, 05/21/2026
Notary block	Comal County, Texas; Notary Linda Hayes; seal affixed

Scenario 2: Marcus and Aisha Carter, Married Couple, Estate Planning

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Principal name and address	Marcus J. Carter, 8801 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77063
Agent name and address	Aisha N. Carter, 8801 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77063
Successor agent	Damon Carter (brother), 22 Magnolia Street, Katy, Texas 77450
Powers initialed	ALL — initialed M.J.C.
Special instructions	“Agent may fund the Carter Family Revocable Trust dated 03/02/2024 with any of my assets.”
Effective date	Initialed immediate option
Signature and date	Marcus J. Carter, 05/21/2026
Notary block	Harris County, Texas; Notary Robert Kim; seal affixed

Scenario 3: Janet Pierce, 38, Deploying Service Member

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Principal name and address	Janet R. Pierce, 1209 Officer Lane, Killeen, Texas 76541
Agent name and address	Karen Pierce (mother), 44 Hilltop Road, Waco, Texas 76710
Successor agent	Thomas Pierce (father), 44 Hilltop Road, Waco, Texas 76710
Powers initialed	(A), (B), (E), (I), (J), (M) — initialed J.R.P.
Special instructions	“This power expires automatically on 12/31/2027 or my earlier written revocation.”
Effective date	Initialed immediate option
Signature and date	Janet R. Pierce, 05/21/2026
Notary block	Bell County, Texas; Notary Carla Owens; seal affixed

How to File the Completed Form

You do not file the financial POA with a state agency. You deliver it where it will be used, and you record it with the county clerk only when real estate is involved. Each delivery channel matters.

• In person at your bank or brokerage: Bring the original and a photo ID. Most Texas banks scan the original and return it the same day. There is no fee, and you should request a written acknowledgment that the form is on file. Processing takes one to ten business days under Texas Estates Code §751.211, which sets the bank’s response timeline.

• By mail or secure upload: Many institutions accept a notarized copy by mail or through their secure document portal, such as the Chase secure message center or Fidelity document upload. Keep tracking confirmation as proof of filing.

• With the county clerk for real-estate use: Take the original to the county clerk where the property sits, listed in the Texas county clerk directory. Fees usually run $26 for the first page and $4 per additional page, payable by cash, check, or card. The clerk records the document and returns the original stamped with a recording number, which is your proof of filing.

• With the IRS for tax matters: To allow the agent to discuss federal tax issues, also file IRS Form 2848 along with the durable power of attorney. There is no filing fee, and processing takes about five weeks.

• With the Social Security Administration: SSA does not honor a POA. Your agent must instead apply to be a representative payee using SSA Form SSA-11, processed at your local field office without charge.

Always keep the signed original in a fireproof safe at home, not a bank safe-deposit box, since access to the box may itself require the POA you cannot retrieve.

What Happens After You File

Once delivered, the agent can begin acting within the limits you set. Texas Estates Code §751.101 places a fiduciary duty on the agent to act loyally, in good faith, and in your best interest. The agent must keep records of every transaction under §751.103 and produce them to you, your guardian, or a court within 15 days of a written request under §751.105.

Banks may ask the agent to sign an Agent’s Certification under Texas Estates Code §751.203, swearing the power is still in effect. This is normal, not a rejection. If the institution refuses to accept a properly drafted Texas POA without a statutory reason, you can sue under Texas Estates Code §751.212 for a court order compelling acceptance and for attorney fees.

Your power of attorney ends automatically at your death, when you revoke it in writing, when a court appoints a guardian for you (unless the order says otherwise), when the agent dies or resigns without a successor, or when a divorce ends the marriage of an agent-spouse under §751.132.

To revoke, sign a written Revocation of Power of Attorney and deliver copies to the agent and every institution holding the POA. Record the revocation in the county where the original was recorded. The Texas State Law Library revocation guide explains the steps in plain English.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

• Initialing the ALL line and individual categories. Consequence: banks reject the form for ambiguity.
• Writing “see attached” instead of writing instructions on the form itself. Consequence: notary will not acknowledge attachments without specific incorporation language.
• Naming co-agents without saying jointly or independently. Consequence: every transaction needs both signatures, which delays urgent payments.
• Picking the springing option without an attached HIPAA release. Consequence: the doctor cannot certify incapacity, and the form never activates.
• Forgetting to grant hot powers like gifting or trust funding when needed. Consequence: agent cannot do Medicaid planning under Texas Estates Code §751.031.
• Listing only a P.O. box for the principal. Consequence: banks need a residence address to confirm Texas jurisdiction and may pause processing.
• Using an expired or self-printed form with old statutory language. Consequence: institutions reject the form because the powers list does not match current §752.051.
• Skipping the notary acknowledgment. Consequence: form is void; Texas Estates Code §751.0021 mandates notarization.
• Failing to record a POA used for real estate. Consequence: title companies refuse to insure the deed your agent signs.
• Not delivering copies to your agent and key institutions. Consequence: in an emergency, no one can find or use the document.
• Naming an agent who lives out of country without a U.S. backup. Consequence: foreign service of process and currency issues stall transactions.
• Leaving the special instructions blank when limits are needed. Consequence: agent has wider authority than you intended.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

• Do read every page out loud before signing, because your future self relies on language you understand today.
• Do pick the immediate option unless a doctor’s letter is easy to obtain, since delays during a hospital stay can cost real money.
• Do name at least one successor agent, because life changes and your first choice may not be available.
• Do record the form with the county clerk if real estate is involved, since title companies require it for closing.
• Do deliver copies to your bank, brokerage, and CPA in advance, so the form is on file before an emergency.
• Do review the document every three to five years, since family changes and statutory updates can make old forms stale.

Don’ts:

• Don’t add witnesses thinking they help, because Texas only requires notarization and extra witnesses can confuse banks.
• Don’t grant gifting powers casually, since gifts above the annual federal gift exclusion trigger IRS reporting.
• Don’t rely on a generic online template that omits Texas-specific notice language, because §752.051 wording is mandatory.
• Don’t store the only original in a safe-deposit box, since access usually requires the very POA you cannot retrieve.
• Don’t forget to revoke older POAs in writing, because two valid documents create authority disputes.
• Don’t pick a co-agent setup unless you truly want both people to act, since dual authority slows urgent decisions.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Pros of doing it yourself:

• You save legal fees, which range from $200 to $600 in most Texas markets according to the Texas Lawyer Referral Service.
• You control timing and can finish in one afternoon at a UPS Store notary.
• You learn the document deeply, which helps you communicate with your agent.
• You can update the form anytime by signing a new one.
• You avoid scheduling delays during an emergency.

Cons of doing it yourself:

• You may miss hot powers like gifting or trust funding that need explicit grants under §751.031.
• You can grant more authority than you meant to, especially when initialing the ALL line.
• You may pick a springing option without the HIPAA paperwork to make it work.
• You may not coordinate the POA with your will, trust, or beneficiary designations.
• You bear the risk of bank rejection without an attorney to negotiate acceptance under §751.212.

FAQs

Is the Texas Statutory Durable Power of Attorney valid in other states?

Yes. Most states honor an out-of-state POA that was valid where signed, under each state’s version of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, though some require additional certifications.

Do I need witnesses to sign the financial POA in Texas?

No. Texas Estates Code §751.0021 requires only notarization for the financial form; witnesses are required only for the separate medical power of attorney.

Can I name two agents to act together?

Yes. You can name co-agents and choose whether they act jointly or independently, but state your choice clearly in the special instructions to avoid bank disputes.

Does the form give my agent authority over my health care?

No. Health care authority comes from the Medical Power of Attorney under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 166, a separate document.

Do I write my full middle name or just an initial in the principal block?

Yes. Use the exact format on your driver license; if the license shows a full middle name, write the full middle name to avoid mismatches at the bank.

Should I initial both the immediate and springing options to be safe?

No. Initial only one; initialing both creates ambiguity that title companies and banks treat as a defective form.

Do I have to initial each power letter, or can I just initial ALL?

Yes. You may initial only the ALL line if you intend to grant every category, and you should not also initial individual letters.

Is a copy of the POA as good as the original?

No. Banks may accept a certified copy, but real-estate recording and many institutions still require the inked original signed before a notary.

Can my agent change the beneficiaries on my IRA?

No. That is a hot power under Texas Estates Code §751.031 and requires an express grant in the special instructions block.

Does the POA end if I move out of Texas?

No. A validly executed Texas POA remains valid, though the new state’s law may control how it is used there.

Can I use Remote Online Notarization to sign the form?

Yes. Texas authorizes remote online notarization through the Secretary of State’s online notary program, and the resulting acknowledgment is fully valid.

Will Social Security accept my POA for my mother’s benefits?

No. SSA does not honor any POA; you must apply to be a representative payee using Form SSA-11 at the local field office.

Do I need to record the POA with the county clerk?

Yes. Recording is required under Texas Estates Code §751.151 whenever the agent will sign documents affecting real property, such as deeds or deeds of trust.

Can I revoke the POA at any time?

Yes. You can revoke at any time while you have capacity by signing a written revocation and delivering copies to the agent and every institution holding the form.