Michigan Laws 556.401 – Statutory form power of attorney

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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 556.401

Agent: means a person granted authority to act for a principal under a power of attorney, whether denominated an agent, attorney-in-fact, or otherwise. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. ^{Source: OCC}
Court: includes that term as defined in section 1103 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Entity: means a person other than an individual. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
Good faith: means honesty in fact. See Michigan Laws 556.202
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.
Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
Person: means an individual or corporation, including a fiduciary of an estate or trust, a business 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 Michigan Laws 556.202
power: means a power of attorney. See Michigan Laws 556.202
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 written record that grants authority to an agent to act in 1 or more matters on behalf of the principal, whether or not the term power of attorney is used. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Principal: means an individual who grants authority to an agent in a power of attorney. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Property: means anything that may be the subject of ownership, whether real or personal, or legal or equitable, or any interest or right in such a thing. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. See Michigan Laws 556.202
Sign: means to do either of the following with the intent to authenticate or adopt a record:

(i) Execute or adopt a tangible symbol. See Michigan Laws 556.202

State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See Michigan Laws 556.202

A document substantially in the following form may be used to create a statutory form power of attorney that has the meaning and effect prescribed by this act:


MICHIGAN
STATUTORY FORM POWER OF ATTORNEY

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This power of attorney authorizes another person (your agent) to make decisions concerning your property for you (the principal). It is, therefore, an important legal document, and you are taking a serious step if you decide to make use of this form without seeking legal advice; for if the person you designate as your agent accepts authority granted under this power of attorney, the agent will be able to make decisions and act with respect to your property (including your money). The extent of your agent’s authority over subjects listed on this form is explained in the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.201 to 556.505.

This power of attorney does not authorize the agent to make health care decisions for you and it does not authorize the agent to exercise powers you have as a parent or guardian regarding care, custody, or property of a minor child or ward.

You should select someone you trust to serve as your agent and you should ask yourself as you review each section of this form, whether you have chosen the right person(s) to act in that capacity. If your signature on this form is notarized or witnessed as provided below, then unless you specify otherwise, the agent’s authority will generally continue until you die or revoke the power of attorney or the agent resigns or is unable to act for you.

Your agent is entitled to reasonable compensation unless you state otherwise in the Special Instructions.

This form provides for designation of an agent and successor agent(s) who serve one at a time, as opposed to coagents who serve simultaneously. If you wish to name coagents, you may do so in the Special Instructions. Coagents are not required to act together unless you include that requirement in the Special Instructions.

If your agent is unable or unwilling to act for you, your power of attorney will end unless you have named a successor agent. You may also name a second successor agent.

This power of attorney becomes effective immediately unless you state otherwise in the Special Instructions. And unless you state otherwise in the Special Instructions, this power of attorney does not revoke any other power of attorney you may have created.

If you have questions about the power of attorney or the authority it grants to your agent, you should seek legal advice before signing this form.

DESIGNATION OF AGENT

I ____________________________________________________________ name
(Name of Principal)
the following person as my agent:

Name of Agent:___________________________________________________

Agent’s Address:_________________________________________________

Agent’s Telephone Number: ________________________________________

DESIGNATION OF SUCCESSOR AGENT(S) (OPTIONAL)

If my agent is unable or unwilling to act for me, I name as my successor agent:

Name of Successor Agent: _________________________________________

Successor Agent’s Address:_______________________________________

Successor Agent’s Telephone Number:______________________________

If my successor agent is unable or unwilling to act for me, I name as my second successor agent:

Name of Second Successor Agent:__________________________________

Second Successor Agent’s Address:________________________________

Second Successor Agent’s Telephone Number:_______________________

GRANT OF GENERAL AUTHORITY

I grant my agent and any successor agent general authority to act for me with respect to the following subjects as defined in the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.201 to 556.505:

(INITIAL each subject you want to include in the agent’s general authority. If you wish to grant general authority over all of the subjects, you may simply initial “All Preceding Subjects.”)

(___) Real Property
(___) Tangible Personal Property
(___) Stocks and Bonds
(___) Commodities and Options
(___) Banks and Other Financial Institutions
(___) Operation of Entity or Business
(___) Insurance and Annuities
(___) Estates, Trusts, and Other Beneficial Interests
(___) Claims and Litigation
(___) Personal and Family Maintenance
(___) Benefits from Governmental Programs or Civil or Military Service
(___) Retirement Plans
(___) Taxes
(___) All Preceding Subjects (regardless of whether any of the preceding subjects are initialed)

GRANT OF SPECIFIC AUTHORITY (OPTIONAL)

My agent MAY NOT do any of the following specific acts for me UNLESS I have INITIALED the specific authority listed below:

CAUTION! Granting any of the following will give your agent the authority to take actions that could significantly reduce your property or change how your property is distributed at your death. Furthermore, depending on the amount in one or more of the accounts mentioned in the last item listed below (which refers to 31 C.F.R. § 1010.350), granting that particular power may subject your agent to burdensome federal reporting obligations that are subject to stiff penalties. INITIAL ONLY the specific authority you WANT to give your agent. If you have questions about the wisdom of granting any specific authority to your agent, you should seek legal advice before signing this form. If you are inclined to grant specific authority but doubt the wisdom of granting that authority to a particular person you have designated as your agent or successor agent, you should ask yourself whether you have designated the right person(s).

(___) Create, amend, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust
(___) Make a gift as limited by section 217 of the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.317, and any special instructions in this power of attorney
(___) Create or change rights of survivorship by, for example, creating a joint account
(___) Create or change a beneficiary designation
(___) Authorize another person to exercise the authority granted under this power of attorney
(___) Waive the principal‘s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan
(___) Exercise fiduciary powers that the principal has authority to delegate
(___) Access the content of electronic communications
(___) Exercise authority over any “bank, securities, or other financial account in a foreign country” within the meaning of 31 C.F.R. § 1010.350

LIMITATION ON AGENT’S AUTHORITY

Even if I have authorized my agent to make a gift (by initialing the relevant line above), an agent who is not my ancestor, spouse, or descendant MAY NOT use my property to benefit the agent or a person to whom the agent owes an obligation of support unless I have included that authority in the Special Instructions.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (OPTIONAL)

You may give special instructions on the following lines.

CAUTION! Special instructions are liable to cause ambiguities that may impair the effectiveness of this power of attorney. You are taking a solemn step if you decide to make any use of this form without seeking legal advice; you should be especially wary of providing special instructions without the benefit of legal counsel.
__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

EFFECTIVE DATE

This power of attorney is effective immediately unless I have stated otherwise in the Special Instructions.

EFFECT ON PREVIOUS POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Unless I have said otherwise in the Special Instructions, the execution of this power of attorney does not revoke any prior power of attorney.

NOMINATION OF CONSERVATOR OR GUARDIAN (OPTIONAL)

If it becomes necessary for a court to appoint a conservator or guardian of my estate or guardian of my person, I nominate the following person(s) for appointment:

Name of Nominee for Conservator or Guardian of My Estate: ____________________________

Nominee’s Address: _______________________________________________

Nominee’s Telephone Number:______________________________________

Name of Nominee for Guardian of My Person:_______________________

Nominee’s Address:_______________________________________________

Nominee’s Telephone Number:______________________________________

RELIANCE ON THIS POWEROF ATTORNEY

Any person, including my agent, may rely upon the validity of this power of attorney or a copy of it unless that person knows that the power has terminated or is invalid.

SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL, SIGNATURES OF WITNESSES,
AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

CAUTION! Unless you provide otherwise in the Special Instructions, this form will create a “durable” power of attorney if you sign it either before a notary public (or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments) or in the presence of two witnesses neither of whom is designated as your agent or successor agent, both of whom sign below (and one of whom may be the notary public or other individual authorized by law to take acknowledgments who also signs below in his or her official capacity). The power’s being “durable” means that unless the power is revoked or the agent’s authority is otherwise terminated beforehand, your agent’s authority will continue during any period in which you are alive but incapacitated. If you have questions about the wisdom of making this power durable, you should seek legal advice before signing this form.

CAUTION! You have an important motivation to acknowledge your signature before a notary public (or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments) regardless of the question of durability (described above): doing so will make it harder, under section 120 of the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.220, for someone to whom the power is presented to decline to accept the power and your agent’s authority to act on your behalf.

_________________________________	_______________
Your Signature		Date

_________________________________
Your Name Printed

_________________________________
Your Address

_________________________________
Your Telephone Number

_________________________________	_______________
Witness No. 1’s Signature		Date

_________________________________
Witness No. 1’s Name Printed

_________________________________
Witness No. 1’s Address

_________________________________	_______________
Witness No. 2’s Signature		Date

_________________________________
Witness No. 2’s Name Printed

_________________________________
Witness No. 2’s Address

State of ____________________________
[County] of ___________________________

This document was acknowledged before me on _______________
	(Date)
by ______________________________________.
(Name of Principal)

________________________________	(Seal, if any)

Signature of Notary ____________________________________________

My commission expires: _______________

This document prepared by:
__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR AGENT
Agent’sDuties

When you accept authority granted under this power of attorney, a special legal relationship is created between you and the principal. This relationship imposes upon you legal duties that continue until you resign or the power or your authority under it is terminated by a termination event described in the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.201 to 556.505. You must:

(1) Do what you know the principal reasonably expects you to do with the principal’s property or, if you do not know the principal’s expectations, act in the principal’s best interest;
(2) Act in good faith;
(3) Do nothing beyond the authority granted in this power of attorney;
(4) Keep a record of receipts, disbursements, and transactions made on behalf of the principal;
(5) Disclose your identity as an agent whenever you act for the principal by, for example, writing or printing the name of the principal and signing your own name as “agent” in the following manner:

(Principal’s Name) by (Your Signature) as Agent;
(6) And if the power is “durable” in the sense described below, you must, before acting as agent under the power, sign an acknowledgment of your duties as agent that contains all the declarations contained in the optional template “Agent’s Acknowledgment” provided in section 302 of the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.402, in substantially the form of that optional template.

Unless the Special Instructions in this power of attorney state otherwise, you must also:

(1) Act loyally for the principal’s benefit;
(2) Avoid conflicts that would impair your ability to act in the principal’s best interest;
(3) Act with care, competence, and diligence;
(4) Cooperate with any person that has authority to make health care decisions for the principal to do what you know the principal reasonably expects concerning health care or, if you do not know the principal’s expectations, to act in the principal’s best interest; and
(5) Attempt, to the extent of the powers you have been granted as agent, to preserve the principal’s estate plan if you know the plan and preserving the plan is consistent with the principal’s best interest.

Termination of Agent’s Authority

You must stop acting on behalf of the principal if you learn of any event that terminates this power of attorney or your authority under it. Events that terminate a power of attorney or your authority to act under such a power include:

(1) Death of the principal;
(2) The principal’s revocation of the power of attorney or your authority;
(3) The occurrence of a termination event stated in the power;
(4) If the power is intended only for a specified, limited purpose, the specified purpose of the power is fully accomplished; or
(5) If you are married to the principal, a legal action is filed with a court to end your marriage, or for your legal separation, unless the Special Instructions in this power of attorney state that such an action will not terminate your authority.

Statutory Duty to Acknowledge Agent’s Duties under “Durable” Power

Unless the Special Instructions in this power of attorney state otherwise, this form will create a “durable” power of attorney (meaning that unless the power is revoked or your authority is otherwise terminated beforehand, your authority as agent will continue during any period in which the principal is alive but incapacitated) if the principal signs it either before a notary public (or other individual authorized to take acknowledgments) or in the presence of two witnesses neither of whom is designated as the principal’s agent or successor agent and both of whom also sign the form. If this power of attorney is durable, then before you act as agent under the power, you must execute an acknowledgment of your duties as agent that contains all the declarations contained in the optional template “Agent’s Acknowledgment” provided in section 302 of the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.402, in substantially the form of that optional template.

Liability of Agent

The meaning of the authority granted to you is defined in the uniform power of attorney act, MCL 556.201 to 556.505. If you violate that act or the terms of this power, you may be liable for any damages caused by your violation.

If there is anything about this document or your duties under it that you do not understand, you should seek legal advice.

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