PBGC Form 715 Power of Attorney: Notary Requirements

PBGC allows participants, certain beneficiaries, QDRO alternate payees, and persons appealing a PBGC determination to file a power of attorney so someone else can act on PBGC pension matters. Form 715 is PBGC's optional POA for that purpose.

In item 4, the principal selects which PBGC actions each agent may take—such as applying for benefits, changing contact information, requesting records, or representing the principal before PBGC's Appeals Board. Item 5 chooses durable or non-durable duration for PBGC purposes.

This guide explains signing and notarization mechanics. It does not recommend which item 4 powers to grant, whether to choose durable or non-durable authority, or whether Form 715 is better than a non-PBGC POA for your situation.

The principal signs item 7 after reading the notice in item 6. PBGC states on the signature line that the POA will not be effective unless the principal's signature is witnessed in item 8 and notarized in item 9.

Item 8 is a witness statement and signature. The witness certifies that the principal appeared before the witness, acknowledged signing item 7, and delivered the instrument voluntarily. The form lists categories of people who may not serve as the witness, including certain relatives and the agent under the POA.

Item 9 is the notarization of the principal's signature. The notary block uses personal-appearance language: the principal appeared personally before the notary.

PBGC filing instructions add that PBGC will reject a Form 715 that has not been signed by both the principal and the agent(s), or if the principal's signature is not witnessed and notarized by two different people.

Form 715 repeats the rule in both places: the witness may not also notarize in item 9, and the notary may not also sign as the witness in item 8.

Plan three distinct roles before the signing event: principal, witness, and notary. If you use remote online notarization for item 9, you still need a separate qualified witness for item 8 who is not the online notary performing the principal's notarization.

Witness eligibility and notarial law can vary by state. The notary does not decide whether a chosen witness satisfies PBGC's form restrictions or state law.

PBGC requires each agent named in item 2 to sign and date item 10 after reading the Notice to Agent(s). Filing instructions state that the agent does not need to sign in the principal's presence.

Agents are not authorized to act until they have signed item 10. A notary session for the principal does not replace the agent's own signature obligation.

If multiple agents are named, confirm in item 3 whether they must act jointly or may act independently. That coordination rule is separate from notarization.

PBGC will accept either Form 715 or a non-PBGC POA that meets the requirements of the state where the POA was signed and clearly authorizes action with respect to the PBGC pension.

Filing a new Form 715 replaces a prior PBGC Form 715 on file. It does not automatically revoke a non-PBGC POA already on file with PBGC.

General POA execution, witnesses, and recipient acceptance are covered in the power of attorney online notarization guide. Return here when the receiving institution is specifically PBGC and you are using Form 715.

Item 4(j) can authorize an agent to represent the principal before PBGC's Appeals Board. PBGC's appeal guidance states that you do not need an attorney to file an appeal, but if a non-attorney represents you, the Appeals Board needs a notarized power of attorney signed by you that states the representative's scope of authority. Form 715 is listed as an optional form for that purpose.

29 CFR § 4003.6 similarly requires a notarized POA when a non-attorney representative acts in PBGC proceedings. This page does not walk through the full appeals process, deadlines, or briefing requirements—only the notarized POA execution point shared with Form 715.

Recipient confirmation is required. Form 715 item 9 uses personal-appearance notary language, and PBGC sources reviewed for this guide do not state a blanket policy accepting remote online notarization for every Form 715 submission, electronic original, or mailing workflow.

Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. Even when a remote session satisfies that state's law, PBGC may still require confirmation that it will accept the executed Form 715 and that a separate witness completed item 8.