By: Richard I. Kantner, Jr., Esquire, The Kantner Law Firm, PL

INTRODUCTION:

The Florida Statute (Chapter 709) that addresses powers of attorney was recently revised substantially by the Florida Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 670 on May 4, 2011.  The new statute becomes effective on October 1, 2011 (“the effective date”). This article highlights some of the changes to the law that clients and their advisors should be aware of in order to be protected and up to date.  It should be noted that while the new law does not make a power of attorney properly executed prior to the effective date void, the new statute nevertheless applies to those powers of attorney that were executed prior to the effective date. Therefore, it is important to review existing powers of attorney to understand which terms will be subject to a different set of rules than were in place when the document was executed and which will be grandfathered in.

OVERVIEW OF NEW LAW: 

The passage of the new law governing powers of attorney and similar instruments is an attempt by the Florida legislature to achieve greater consistency and uniformity of Florida’s power of attorney laws (and thus documents) with those of other states who have similarly passed the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (the “Act”).  Nine other states have adopted the Act (Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

Execution and Termination: Florida still requires the principal to sign the document in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, all before a notary public. Interestingly, the new Act considers a power of attorney executed in another state to be valid here even if it does not comply with Florida’s requirements, as long as it complied with the state of origin’s requirements.

The power of attorney is not durable unless it explicitly contains language to that effect.  The new law does away with most springing powers of attorney (those that “spring” into effect upon a certain event such as incapacity).  To revoke a prior power of attorney, the principal executes a written document so expressing that desire (it need not be witnessed or notarized, though I think it advisable nonetheless).  An interesting provision in the new law is that it provides that a photocopy or electronic copy of the power of attorney have the same effect as the original.

The power of attorney is suspended upon the initiation of a judicial proceeding to determine capacity of the principal or for a guardianship proceeding.  A power of attorney terminates upon the death of either the principal or the attorney-in-fact.  A common misconception clients often have is that the power of attorney continues even after the death of principal.

Agents: The agent (“attorney-in-fact”) must be: (1) a person who is at least 18 years old; or (2) a financial institution with trust powers, that has a place of business in Florida, and which is authorized to conduct trust business in the state.   The principal may name a single agent or multiple co-agents and in the event that co-agents are named, each may exercise its authority independent from the others.  Under the previous law, unless the document specifically stated, all agents were required to act jointly.

Compensation:  Under the new Act, an agent is entitled to reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred while acting in the capacity as the attorney-in-fact; however, a big departure from the prior law is that only a “qualified agent” may receive compensation for services rendered.  A qualified agent is defined as a spouse or an heir of the principal, a financial institution with trust powers and a place of business in Florida, an attorney or accountant licensed in Florida, or a natural person who is a resident of Florida and who has never been an agent for more than three principals at a time.

Powers:  One of the biggest changes in the law with this Act is all of the powers must be specifically enumerated in the document and that certain of those powers require that the principal must sign or initial next to each one so enumerated.  The previous law had no such requirement and the document could specify dozens of specific powers and also include a general power such as “to do all acts that I could have done and to act in my stead . . .”  Under the new Act, this type of grant of power would be ineffective to grant such power.  The Act actually lists the types of powers that require the principal to endorse and a few of those are:

• Create a living trust;
• Amend, modify, revoke or terminate a trust created by the principal (if the trust also permits it);
• Make a gift; and
• Create or change a beneficiary designation;

In an apparent attempt to curb financial abuse theft, at least by non-family members, the agent may not create in himself or herself, an interest in the principal’s property, whether it is through gift, by beneficiary designation, title change to an account or asset, or otherwise.  This prohibition does not apply to a spouse, ancestor, or descendant of the principal.

Acceptance:  When a power of attorney is presented to a third party, the new law requires that third party to accept or reject the power of attorney within a reasonable time (four business days) and to provide a written explanation for rejection.    The new law also provides for damages, including attorney’s fees and costs, for a third party who refuses to accept the new power of attorney that is in proper form and properly executed.

CONCLUSION:

The new Act adds, deletes, and modifies many additional powers not addressed here that may be of no less importance to the reader than those described above.   Accordingly, you should contact a qualified Florida attorney to explain the changes to you and how they may affect your planning and whether it would be appropriate for you to execute a new Durable Power of Attorney on or after October 1, 2011, to ensure that you will have the full rights, privileges, and protections provided by the new law.

Richard (“Rick”) I. Kantner, Jr., was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1993, and his practices areas include Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate Administration, and Medicaid and V.A. Benefits Planning.  Mr. Kantner is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA”) and the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar. Offices in St. Petersburg, Largo/Belleair, and Palm Harbor.