Michigan Laws 700.5501 – Durable power of attorney; definition; attorney-in-fact
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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 700.5501
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Attorney: means , if appointed to represent a child under the provisions referenced in section 5213, an attorney serving as the child's legal advocate in the manner defined and described in section 13a of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A. See Michigan Laws 700.1103
- Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
- Child: includes , but is not limited to, an individual entitled to take as a child under this act by intestate succession from the parent whose relationship is involved. See Michigan Laws 700.1103
- Conservator: means a person appointed by a court to manage a protected individual's estate. See Michigan Laws 700.1103
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Disability: means cause for a protective order as described in section 5401. See Michigan Laws 700.1103
- Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
- Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
- Fiduciary: includes , but is not limited to, a personal representative, funeral representative, guardian, conservator, trustee, plenary guardian, partial guardian, and successor fiduciary. See Michigan Laws 700.1104
- Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Guardian: means a person who has qualified as a guardian of a minor or a legally incapacitated individual under a parental or spousal nomination or a court appointment and includes a limited guardian as described in sections 5205, 5206, and 5306. See Michigan Laws 700.1104
- Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
- Minor: means an individual who is less than 18 years of age. See Michigan Laws 700.1106
- Parent: includes , but is not limited to, an individual entitled to take, or who would be entitled to take, as a parent under this act by intestate succession from a child who dies without a will and whose relationship is in question. See Michigan Laws 700.1106
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Patient advocate: means an individual designated to exercise powers concerning another individual's care, custody, and medical or mental health treatment or authorized to make an anatomical gift on behalf of another individual, or both, as provided in section 5506. See Michigan Laws 700.1106
- Person: means an individual or an organization. See Michigan Laws 700.1106
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Property: means anything that may be the subject of ownership, and includes both real and personal property or an interest in real or personal property. See Michigan Laws 700.1106
- Security: includes , but is not limited to, a note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in an oil, gas, or mining title or lease or in payments out of production under such a title or lease, collateral trust certificate, transferable share, voting trust certificate, or interest in a regulated investment company or other entity generally referred to as a mutual fund or, in general, an interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or a certificate of interest or participation for, a temporary or interim certificate, receipt, or certificate of deposit for, or any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the items listed in this subdivision. See Michigan Laws 700.1107
- Trust: includes , but is not limited to, an express trust, private or charitable, with additions to the trust, wherever and however created. See Michigan Laws 700.1107
- Ward: means an individual for whom a guardian is appointed. See Michigan Laws 700.1108
(1) A durable power of attorney is a power of attorney by which a principal designates another as the principal’s attorney-in-fact in a writing that contains the words “This power of attorney is not affected by the principal’s subsequent disability or incapacity, or by the lapse of time”, or “This power of attorney is effective upon the disability or incapacity of the principal”, or similar words showing the principal’s intent that the authority conferred is exercisable notwithstanding the principal’s subsequent disability or incapacity and, unless the power states a termination time, notwithstanding the lapse of time since the execution of the instrument.
(2) Subject to section 1202, a durable power of attorney under this section must be dated and signed voluntarily by the principal or signed by a notary public on the principal’s behalf under section 33 of the Michigan law on notarial acts, 2003 PA 238, MCL 55.293. The durable power of attorney must be 1 or both of the following:
(a) Signed in the presence of 2 witnesses, neither of whom is the attorney-in-fact, and both of whom also sign the durable power of attorney.
(b) Acknowledged by the principal before a notary public, who endorses on the durable power of attorney a certificate of that acknowledgment and the true date of taking the acknowledgment.
(3) An attorney-in-fact designated and acting under a durable power of attorney has the authority, rights, responsibilities, and limitations as provided by law with respect to a durable power of attorney, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Except as provided in the durable power of attorney, the attorney-in-fact shall act in accordance with the standards of care applicable to fiduciaries exercising powers under a durable power of attorney.
(b) The attorney-in-fact shall take reasonable steps to follow the instructions of the principal.
(c) Upon request of the principal, the attorney-in-fact shall keep the principal informed of the attorney-in-fact’s actions. The attorney-in-fact shall provide an accounting to the principal upon request of the principal, to a conservator or guardian appointed on behalf of the principal upon request of the guardian or conservator, or pursuant to judicial order.
(d) The attorney-in-fact shall not make a gift of all or any part of the principal’s assets, unless provided for in the durable power of attorney or by judicial order.
(e) Unless provided in the durable power of attorney or by judicial order, the attorney-in-fact, while acting as attorney-in-fact, shall not create an account or other asset in joint tenancy between the principal and the attorney-in-fact.
(f) The attorney-in-fact shall maintain records of the attorney-in-fact’s actions on behalf of the principal, including transactions, receipts, disbursements, and investments.
(g) The attorney-in-fact may be liable for any damage or loss to the principal, and may be subject to any other available remedy, for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the principal. In the durable power of attorney, the principal may exonerate the attorney-in-fact of any liability to the principal for breach of fiduciary duty except for actions committed by the attorney-in-fact in bad faith or with reckless indifference. An exoneration clause is not enforceable if inserted as the result of an abuse by the attorney-in-fact of a fiduciary or confidential relationship to the principal.
(h) The attorney-in-fact may receive reasonable compensation for the attorney-in-fact’s services if provided for in the durable power of attorney.
(4) Before exercising authority under a durable power of attorney, an attorney-in-fact shall execute an acknowledgment of the attorney-in-fact’s responsibilities that contains all of the substantive statements in substantially the following form:
I, ____________________, have been appointed as attorney-in-fact for ________________________, the principal, under a durable power of attorney dated __________. By signing this document, I acknowledge that if and when I act as attorney-in-fact, all of the following apply:
(a) Except as provided in the durable power of attorney, I must act in accordance with the standards of care applicable to fiduciaries acting under durable powers of attorney.
(b) I must take reasonable steps to follow the instructions of the principal.
(c) Upon request of the principal, I must keep the principal informed of my actions. I must provide an accounting to the principal upon request of the principal, to a guardian or conservator appointed on behalf of the principal upon the request of that guardian or conservator, or pursuant to judicial order.
(d) I cannot make a gift from the principal’s property, unless provided for in the durable power of attorney or by judicial order.
(e) Unless provided in the durable power of attorney or by judicial order, I, while acting as attorney-in-fact, cannot create an account or other asset in joint tenancy between the principal and me.
(f) I must maintain records of my transactions as attorney-in-fact, including receipts, disbursements, and investments.
(g) I may be liable for any damage or loss to the principal, and may be subject to any other available remedy, for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the principal. In the durable power of attorney, the principal may exonerate me of any liability to the principal for breach of fiduciary duty except for actions committed by me in bad faith or with reckless indifference. An exoneration clause is not enforceable if inserted as the result of my abuse of a fiduciary or confidential relationship to the principal.
(h) I may be subject to civil or criminal penalties if I violate my duties to the principal.
Signature: _______________________ Date: ______________________
(5) A third party is not liable to the principal or any other person because the third party has complied in good faith with instructions from an attorney-in-fact named in a durable power of attorney whether or not the attorney-in-fact has executed an acknowledgment that complies with subsection (4). A third party is not liable to the principal or any other person if the third party requires an attorney-in-fact named in a durable power of attorney to execute an acknowledgment that complies with subsection (4) before recognizing the durable power of attorney.
(6) An attorney-in-fact’s failure to comply with subsection (4) does not affect the attorney-in-fact’s authority to act for the principal as provided for in the durable power of attorney and does not affect the attorney-in-fact’s responsibilities or potential liability to the principal.
(7) Subsections (2) to (6) do not apply to any of the following:
(a) A durable power of attorney executed before October 1, 2012.
(b) A delegation under section 5103 or a similar power of attorney created by a parent or guardian regarding the care, custody, or property of a minor child or ward.
(c) A patient advocate designation or a similar power of attorney relating to the principal’s health care.
(d) A durable power of attorney that is coupled with an interest in the subject matter of the power.
(e) A durable power of attorney that is contained in or is part of a loan agreement, security agreement, pledge agreement, escrow agreement, or other similar transaction.
(f) A durable power of attorney in connection with a transaction with a joint venture, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation, condominium, condominium association, condominium trust, or similar entity, including, without limitation, a voting agreement, voting trust, joint venture agreement, royalty agreement, license agreement, proxy, shareholder’s agreement, operating agreement, partnership agreement, management agreement, subscription agreement, certification of incorporation, bylaws, or other agreement that primarily relates to such an entity.
(g) A power of attorney given primarily for a business or a commercial purpose.
(h) A power of attorney created on a form prescribed by a government or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality for a governmental purpose.