--- title: How do I sell my parent's house with a power of attorney? description: Selling a parent's Northern Virginia home under a power of attorney? Who can sign, what the document has to say, and what the title company will ask for. image: https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/post_sell-parents-house-power-of-attorney.png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/how-do-i-sell-my-parents-house-with-a-power-of-attorney#main-content) [![David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164.svg "David-Zadareky-White-Logo-588x164")](https://davidzadareky.com) [![David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164.svg "David-Zadareky-Black-Logo-588x164")](https://davidzadareky.com) - [Home](https://www.davidzadareky.com) - Who I Help - [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing) - [Retirement](https://www.davidzadareky.com/retirement) - [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) - [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales) - Services - [Selling and Buying](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services) - [Market Calibration](https://www.davidzadareky.com/market-calibration) - [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit) - [On-MLS vs Off-MLS](https://www.davidzadareky.com/on-mls-vs-off-mls) - [Insights](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights) - [Deep Dives](https://www.davidzadareky.com/deep-dives) - [Contact](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [Home](https://www.davidzadareky.com) - Who I Help - [Rightsizing](https://www.davidzadareky.com/rightsizing) - [Retirement](https://www.davidzadareky.com/retirement) - [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) - [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales) - Services - [Selling and Buying](https://www.davidzadareky.com/services) - [Market Calibration](https://www.davidzadareky.com/market-calibration) - [Home Audit](https://www.davidzadareky.com/home-audit) - [On-MLS vs Off-MLS](https://www.davidzadareky.com/on-mls-vs-off-mls) - [Insights](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights) - [Deep Dives](https://www.davidzadareky.com/deep-dives) - [Contact](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/davidzadarekycompass/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/davidzadarekycompass/) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzadareky) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@david.zadareky.compass/featured) 2 min read # How do I sell my parent's house with a power of attorney? [David Zadareky](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/author/david-zadareky) : Published November 12, 2026 [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/tag/helping-a-parent) ![How do I sell my parent's house with a power of attorney?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hs-fs/hubfs/post_sell-parents-house-power-of-attorney.png?width=1200&height=630&name=post_sell-parents-house-power-of-attorney.png) **If the power of attorney gives you specific authority over your parent's real estate, you can sign the listing agreement, the sales contract, and the deed on their behalf. If there are any questions, have the document reviewed by an attorney. Either way, read the document before you list, give a copy to your broker, and send it to the title company early in the contract process.** Most delays in these sales come from a wrong assumption about who owns the home, or from paperwork that surfaces late: a power of attorney that doesn't cover real estate, a house that turns out to be in a trust, a missing death certificate for a deceased owner, or a title company that wants a document no one has. ## Who can sign - **Your parent.** If your parent can understand the sale and sign, they can sign for themselves, even if they've given someone a power of attorney. - **The agent under a power of attorney.** The person named in the document signs for your parent, if the document covers real estate. - **A trustee.** If the house is titled in a trust, the trustee signs, and the power of attorney doesn't control it. The title company will usually ask for a certificate of trust. Successor trustees may also be asked for certification paperwork. - **A court-appointed conservator.** If your parent can no longer sign and there's no power of attorney or trust, someone has to petition the circuit court. That takes time and money, so find out early. A power of attorney ends when the person granting the authority dies. After that, the house is handled through the estate or the trust. If your parent has died, see how I approach [estate sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/estate-sales). ## What to check in the document - **You're the named agent.** If you're the successor agent, you may also need to show that the first agent can't or won't act. - **It covers real estate.** Look for language granting authority over real property, or authority to do anything your parent could do. A bank's form limited to accounts won't cover a sale. - **It survives incapacity.** Under Virginia law, a power of attorney is durable unless it says it ends when your parent becomes incapacitated. Older documents and documents from other states are worth a closer look and should be reviewed by an attorney practicing in Virginia. - **It's signed and notarized.** Title companies want an acknowledged document and may also want an original copy. - **Gifts follow their own rules.** Selling to a family member below market value, or giving away proceeds, is a gift. Whether you can do it depends on the document's wording and your parent's history of giving. Ask your attorney before you do either. ## How signing works You sign in your parent's name, followed by yours as agent, for example: "Mary Smith, by John Smith, attorney-in-fact." That goes on the listing agreement, the disclosures, the contract, and the closing documents. The title company will usually ask for the original or a certified copy, may record it with the deed, and may ask you to sign a statement that it's still in effect. If you live out of state, they can usually arrange for you to sign closing documents where you are. Ask before the contract is signed so there are no surprises at closing. ## Your duties as agent You're acting for your parent, not for the heirs. Decisions about price, repairs, and the proceeds should serve your parent's interests. Keep records of what you receive and spend, and keep your parent's money separate from your own. Siblings will often ask, and the records answer them. ## What to do before you list 1. Find the power of attorney and check whether the house is titled in a trust. 2. Have your parent's estate attorney confirm the document covers the sale. 3. Send a copy to the title company and ask what else they'll need. 4. Agree with your siblings on who signs and how decisions get made. *This is general information about Virginia practice, not legal advice. Have an attorney review your parent's documents before you list.* For more on the whole process, see how I approach [helping a parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/helping-a-parent) move and sell. [**Start a conversation**](https://www.davidzadareky.com/contact) [![Should I renovate before selling my parent’s house?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/post_renovate-before-selling-parents-house.png)](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/should-i-renovate-before-selling-my-parents-house) #### [Should I renovate before selling my parent’s house?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/should-i-renovate-before-selling-my-parents-house) [David Zadareky](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/author/david-zadareky) : Nov 7, 2026, 8:08:58 AM Selling a parent’s house in Northern Virginia? Compare selling as-is, targeted improvements, and renovation based on cost, timing, and your family’s... [Helping a Parent](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/tag/helping-a-parent) [Preparing to Sell](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/tag/preparing-to-sell) [Read More](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/should-i-renovate-before-selling-my-parents-house) [![Who can sign to sell the house after a parent dies?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/post_who-can-sign-after-parent-dies.png)](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/who-can-sign-to-sell-the-house-after-a-parent-dies) #### [Who can sign to sell the house after a parent dies?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/who-can-sign-to-sell-the-house-after-a-parent-dies) [David Zadareky](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/author/david-zadareky) : Nov 12, 2026, 1:13:06 PM Selling a parent's Northern Virginia home after a death? When the executor can sign, when every heir has to, and the extra steps for a sale within a... [Estate Sales](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/tag/estate-sales) [Read More](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/who-can-sign-to-sell-the-house-after-a-parent-dies) [![Who owns the house after a parent dies?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/hubfs/post_who-owns-house-after-parent-dies.png)](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/who-owns-the-house-after-a-parent-dies) #### [Who owns the house after a parent dies?](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/who-owns-the-house-after-a-parent-dies) [David Zadareky](https://www.davidzadareky.com/insights/author/david-zadareky) : Nov 12, 2026, 1:13:03 PM How a Northern Virginia home is titled decides who owns it after a death: survivorship, tenants in common, a trust, a transfer on death deed, or the... 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