Trustees, personal representatives, attorneys-in-fact, corporate directors, limited liability company managers, etc. owe fiduciary duties. Generally speaking, a fiduciary duty is where one person has a legal obligation to act in another’s interests. Whether a fiduciary duty exists is a question of law, while breach of fiduciary duty is usually a question of fact. Scanwell Freight…
Legal Articles
Powers of Attorney, Dealings with Third Persons
While powers of attorney are useful tools to allow one person (the attorney-in-fact) to act another person’s behalf (the principal), third-parties are sometimes distrustful of a power of attorney. A power of attorney is relatively easy to create. There are many forms online, including from state bar associations, that seemingly anyone can print and use….
Power of Attorney Litigation, Attorney Fees
Power of attorney litigation often occurs in conjunction with trust litigation. While there are similarities between the fiduciary duties of a trustee and attorney-in-fact, there are different statutory regimes and differing duties. As a general matter, a trustee’s fiduciary duties are more stringent and comprehensive than the duties of an attorney-in-fact. Significantly, the power of…
Power of Attorney and Attorney-in-Fact Liability
Power of attorney instruments for finances are common estate planning tools. The parties to a power of attorney are the principal and attorney-in-fact. The principal designates and nominates the attorney-in-fact to engage in specified and authorized activities on the principal’s behalf. The attorney-in-fact is a fiduciary and must act in the principal’s interests. The relationship…
Power of Attorney Litigation, Attorney Fees
An attorney-in-fact for a principal under a power of attorney has a fiduciary obligation to act in the best interests of the principal consistent with the terms of the power of attorney document. When an attorney-in-fact breaches his or her obligations, the principal, a family member of the principal or some other successor in interest…
Power of Attorney Self-Dealing
An attorney-in-fact acting for a principal under a power of attorney instrument has a legal obligation to act in the principal’s best interests. For this reason, certain powers must be expressly authorized to be valid. Section 404.710.6, RSMo provides, in part, that there must be express written authority in the power of attorney document for…
Power of Attorney Litigation
A power of attorney (“POA”) is a legal document where a principal appoints an attorney-in-fact to take actons on the principal’s behalf. The authority granted to an attorney-in-fact most often pertains to financial decisions and healthcare decisions. An attorney-in-fact owes a fiduciary duty to the principal and must act in the principal’s best interests. The probate…
Improper Gifts Durable Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney authorizes one person — an attorney in fact — to act on behalf of another person — a principal. When a power of attorney is “durable,” it exists even when the principal lacks legal capacity. Given this relationship, an attorney in fact owes fiduciary duties to the principal. In terms of the…