Powers of Attorney

The law

Legislation Index

Index to legislation of 6 US States

· 7 min read

Sections

This index is in these sections:

Overarching Policy Considerations
Definitions

Overarching Policy Considerations

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Texas (durable Powers of Attorney only) California New York Florida Illinois Pennyslvania
purpose NEP NEP NEP NEP 2-1 NEP
requirement to construe to achieve national uniformity 751.003 NEP NEP NEP NEP NEP
express (partial but substantial) extension of application of legislation to also apply to agents for non-commercial purposes NEP 4123 NEP 709.2201(c) 2-3(a) NEP
entitlement to define arrangements however the principal sees fit NEP NEP NEP NEP 2-4(a) NEP

Defined Terms

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Texas (durable Powers of Attorney only) California New York Florida Illinois Pennyslvania
definition of agent 751.002 4014 5-1501 709.2102 2-3 5601(f)
corporate/ commercial entity agent 4010; 4014; 56 5-1501 709.2102 2-3(a); 
2-3(e)
5607
definition of durable  Power of Attorney 751.0015; 751.024 4018 5-1501A 709.2102 NEP 5604(a); 5601.1
definition of Power of Attorney only durable  Power of Attorney defined 4022 5-1501(j) 709.2102
definition of non-statutory Power of Attorney NEP NEP 5-1501 NEP NEP NEP
definition of capacity/incapacity/ incapacitated 751.00201 811 5-1501 709.2102 2-3(c-5) Chapter 55
definition of principal 751.0015 4026 5-1501 709.2102 2-3
Power of Attorney presumed durable NEP NEP 5-1501A(1) NEP 2-5 5601.1
definition of springing Power of Attorney not expressly defined 4030 not expressly defined not expressly defined not expressly defined not expressly defined
definition of third party/third person NEP 4034 5-1501(p) 709.2102 NEP NEP
definition of agency NEP NEP NEP NEP 2-3 NEP
definition of compensation NEP NEP 5-1501 NEP NEP NEP
definition of financial institution NEP NEP 5-1501 709.2102 NEP NEP
definition of monitor NEP NEP 5-1501 NEP NEP NEP
definition of sign NEP NEP 5-1501 709.2102 NEP NEP

Application & Carveouts

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Texas (durable Powers of Attorney only) California New York Florida Illinois Pennyslvania
application of legislation/ carveouts 751.0015 4050 5-1501; 5-1501C 709.2103 2-4 5601(e.1)
application of other legislation NEP 4051 NEP NEP NEP NEP

Cumulative Remedies

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Texas (durable Powers of Attorney only) California New York Florida Illinois Pennyslvania
global provision that other principles apply 751.106 4231.5 NEP 709.2301 NEP 5612
Non-Commercial Affairs
inclusion/exclusion of provisions with respect to non-commercial affairs NEP 4123 NEP 709.2201(c) 2-3(a) 5601(e.2)
Interstate
interstate Powers of Attorney 709.2106 4052; 4053 5-1512 709.2106(3); 709.2107 2-10.5 5611; 5613
Military
Military Powers of Attorney 751.0023 709.2106(4) 5611
Non-qualifiable Provisions
non-qualifiable provisions clause 4101
Execution Requirements
execution requirements 4101; 4121 5-1501B
Requirements
requirements as to form & content 751.0021; 751.023 4102; 4121; 4128 5-1501B 5601(b); 
5601(c)
requirements as to execution by principal & witnessing 4121; 4122 5-1501B 709.2105 3-3.6 5601(b)
standard ‘warning type’ notices 4128 2-8; 2-10.3
requirement for agent to execute special acknowledgement 5601(d)
required wording for Durable Power of Attorney 4124 709.2104
Effective Date
effective date 5-1501B
Assumptions
entitlement to assume signatures genuine 751.022 5608(c)
Non-Statutory Designs
entitlement to use other designs 5-1501B
Principal
qualification of principal 4120 5-1501(k)
Agent
agent qualifications 4200 5-1501(a); 5-1501(i); 5-1508 709.2105
unqualified agents 4201 5-1508
number of agents/multiple agents 751.021 4202 5-1501B 709.2111 2-10.5 5602(b)
emergencies 4202 2-10.5
successor agents 4203 5-1508 709.2111 2-10.3 5602(b)
successor agent qualifications 751.023 5-1508
authority of successor agent 5-1508
liability of agent generally 2-4(a)
liability of successor agent for act of agent 4203 2-10.3
liability for acts of other agents 2-10.3
liability regarding unavailability of agent 2-10.3
compensation and expenses 751.024 4204 5-1506 709.2112 3-3 5609
sub-agency 751.031(b)(5) 4205 5-1513 709.2114(b) 3-3 5602(b)
agent liability/non-liability for acts of sub-agent 4205 5601.3(c)
agent may delegate certain tasks to co-agent 709.2111(6)
resignation 4207 5-1505 709.2118
method for executing documents 5-1507
obligation to act 4230; 4266 2-7; 3-4
standard of care 4231 5-1505 709.2114 2-7 5601.3(b)
standard of care for professional 4231; 4237 709.2114 5601.3(c)
liability of agent 751.006 4231.5 709.2111; 
709.2114; 
709.2115; 
709.2117
2-7; 2-10; 2-10.5 5601.3(c)
express exclusion of liability solely because agent benefits or has conflict 5601.3(c)
Protector
protector §751.023(b) 4203 2-10.3 5602(b)(3)
Monitors
monitor 5-1509
Resignation
resignation 4207 5-1505 709.2118
Acceptance of Appointment
acceptance of appointment 751.023 709.2113
Authority
general authority 751.031 4261 5-1502N 709.2201 5601.4(c)
nature of limited authority 4262
extension of authority to agents 751.005
Tasks
authorizable tasks 4123 709.2201; 709.2208
excluded tasks 709.2201
inclusion of health, lifestyle or welfare decisions 4123 709.2201(c)
special & hot tasks 751.031; 751.032; 751.033 4264; 4465 5-1514 709.2202 3-4 5601.4(a)/ 
5601.4(b); 
5601.4(d); 
5601.4(d.1); 
5602; 5603
incorporation of statutory tasks into Power of Attorney by mere reference 751.034
certain special or hot tasks where authorized to be construed in accordance with legislation unless Power of Attorney provides otherwise 5601(a)
construction of tasks in Statutory Power of Attorney 752.101 - 752.1145; 752.115 4450-4463 5-1502A 3-4 5603
Exclusions
express prohibition on creation or alteration of will 4265
Signing on Behalf of Principal
principal unable to sign 709.2105 5601(b)
Binding Effect
binding nature of agent's act 751.051 4125 5-1501A 709.2201 2-6 5601.4(g); 
5604(b)
Guardian/Conservator
nominate conservator or guardian in Durable Power of Attorney 4126 5604(c)
relationship with conservator/guardian 751.052; 751.133 4206 5-1501A 5604(c)
Lapse of Time
lapse of time §751.132(b) 4127 5-1504 2-5 5604(b)
Springing Power of Attorney
springing Powers of Attorney and right to declare contingency occurred 4030; 4129 5-1501B 709.2108(3) 2-4 5604(a)
Limitations
2-4
Inconsistencies
inconsistency between multiple Powers of Attorney 4130
overlapping tasks 751.031 709.2201 5601.4(e)
Amendment
modification 4150 5-1503 2-4(a); 2-5
Revocation
revocation 4151 5-1511 709.2110 2-4(a) 5605
whether revokes prior or earlier Powers of Attorney 751.135 2-5
Statutory Powers of Attorney
Statutory Power of Attorney; Statutory Power of Attorney requirements 752.051 4400-4409 5-1501(n); 5-1501B 3-1; 3-3
Statutory Power of Attorney form NONE 4401 5-1513 NONE NONE
Statutory Durable Power of Attorney form 752.051 4401 5-1513 NONE NONE
prescribed form not exclusive 751.003 5-1501(o)
minor variations are tolerable 752.001; 752.002; 752.004
definition of non-statutory Power of Attorney
Subject Matter
powers irrelevant to whether property acquired later, location of property or where Power of Attorney executed 751.031; 752.115 4464 709.2201 5601.4(f)
Reliance in Good Faith Protections
protection where unaware of revocation 751.054; 751.134 4151 5605
death of principal where third party acts in good faith 4304
Affidavit/declaration of agent confirming unaware of termination by revocation, death, incapacity or occurrence of event is conclusive proof 751.055 4305 5-1501B; 5-1504 709.2119 2-8; 
2-10.3; 
2-10.5
5606
certification of circumstances 751.203 2-10.3;
2-10.5
third party may assume agent authorized; effect of agent acting is to include warranties 4301 5-1505 709.2119 5608(d)
third party may request agent provide identification, specimen signatures of principal and agent & other information 751.204; 751.205 4302 709.2119 5608(e); 
5608(f); 
5608(g)
third party acting in good faith not liable to principal if Power of Attorney appears valid 751.209 4303 5-1511 709.2119(3) 2-8
knowledge of employees 709.2102
third person to treat agent as if they were the principal 4300
third party refusal to deal with agent where Affidavit provided, exposure to legal costs 751.201; 751.212 4306; 4406 5-1504 709.2120 5608.1(c)
grounds to refuse to deal with agent 751.206; 751.207; 751.208; 751.210 5-1504 709.2120 5608.1(b)
Termination as Against Principal
termination 751.131 4152 5-1511 709.2109 2-4(a); 2-5
fulfilment of purpose 4152 5-1511 709.2109
Termination as Against Agent
incapacity of agent 4152
revocation/termination of agent's authority 751.132 4153 5-1511 709.2109(2); 709.2109(4)
incapacity terminates non-durable 4155
incapacity does not terminate durable 5-1501A
absence of serving agent terminates 5-1511
Divorce
divorce 4154 5-1504(7)(d); 5-1511 2-6 5605(c)
Conflicts With Other Laws
conflicts with other laws 751.007
Duties
duties generally 2-4(a)
designation of agent as fiduciary/imposition of fiduciary duty 751.101 5-1505
duty to act in good faith 709.2114 2-7
duty to act in accordance with principal's expectations 709.2114 2-7
duty to act solely in interests of principal 4232 5-1505 709.2114 2-7
duty to act loyally for the principal's benefit 5-1505 709.2114 5601.3(b)
duty to avoid conflicts 4232 5-1505 5601.3(b)
keep property separate 4233 5-1505 5601.3(b)
duty to communicate and follow instruction 751.102; 751.101 4234 5-1505
duty to only act within scope of authority 5601.3(b)
duty to cooperate with health care decision maker 709.2114 5601.3(b)
duty to preserve estate plan 751.122 709.2114 2-9 5601.3(b)
duty to report breaches by agent or review conduct of agents 751.121 4202 709.2111 2-10.3
obligation upon third parties to provide information where issue as to capacity 4235
consultation of third parties re capacity 4235
keeping records 751.103; 751.104 4236 5-1505 709.2114 5601.3(b)
provide an account 751.104; 751.105
provide information 751.104
access to records 751.104 4236 5-1505; 5-1508 709.2114 2-7 5601.3(d); 
5604(d)
delivering up records upon termination 751.052 ;751.104 4238 5-1508
safety deposit boxes 709.2114
order to file an account 5610
Third Party Required to Deal With Agent
dealings with third parties generally 2-4(a)
third person to treat agent as if they were the principal 4300
third party refusal to deal with agent where Affidavit provided, exposure to legal costs 751.201; 751.212 4306; 4406 5-1504 709.2120 5608.1(c)
grounds to refuse to deal with agent 751.206; 751.207; 751.208; 751.210 5-1504 709.2120 5608.1(b)
costs liability of third party 709.2120
Trusts
delegation by a trustee 709.2103
power to create 5601.4(a); 5602(a)
Copies
copies/certified copies 4307 709.2106(5) 5602(d)
Filing
709.2106(6)
Court
petitioners 751.251 709.2116
limiting petitioners 4503; 4540
petition purposes 4541 5-1510 709.2116
effect of filing of petition 709.2109(3)
bankruptcy 751.057
requirement of proceedings to be in principal's interests 4543
costs of proceedings 4545 709.2116
burden of proof to show no conflict 709.2116(4); 709.2116(5)
Notices
notice requirements 709.2121