1. Effective when executed unless otherwise provided. A power of attorney is effective when executed unless the principal provides in the power of attorney that it becomes effective at a future date or upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency.

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-909

  • Incapacity: means inability of an individual to effectively manage property or business affairs because the individual:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-902
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or any other legal or commercial entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-902
  • 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
  • Power of attorney: means a writing or other record that grants authority to an agent to act in the place of the principal, whether or not the term "power of attorney" is used. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-902
  • Principal: means an individual who grants authority to an agent in a power of attorney. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-902
  • United States: includes territories and the District of Columbia. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
  • 2. Future event or contingency; determination. If a power of attorney becomes effective upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency, the principal, in the power of attorney, may authorize one or more persons to determine in a writing or other record that the event or contingency has occurred.

    [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

    3. Incapacity; determination. If a power of attorney becomes effective upon the principal’s incapacity and the principal has not authorized a person to determine whether the principal is incapacitated, or the person authorized is unable or unwilling to make the determination, the power of attorney becomes effective upon a determination in a writing or other record by:
    A. A physician that the principal is incapacitated within the meaning of section 5?902, subsection 5, paragraph A; or [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
    B. An attorney, a judge or an appropriate governmental official that the principal is incapacitated within the meaning of section 5?902, subsection 5, paragraph B. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

    [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

    4. Personal representative pursuant to federal law. A person authorized by the principal in the power of attorney to determine that the principal is incapacitated may act as the principal’s personal representative pursuant to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 United States Code § 1320d et seq., as amended, and applicable regulations, to obtain access to the principal’s health care information and communicate with the principal’s health care provider.

    [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

    SECTION HISTORY

    PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).