§ 4014. Agent’s duties
(a) Notwithstanding provisions in the power of attorney, an agent who has accepted appointment
shall:
(1) act in accordance with the principal’s reasonable expectations to the extent actually
known by the agent and otherwise in the principal’s best interests;
(2) act in good faith; and
(3) act only within the scope of authority granted in the power of attorney.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in the power of attorney or other provision of this chapter,
an agent that has accepted appointment shall have no further obligation to act under
the power of attorney. However, with respect to any action taken by the agent under
the power of attorney, the agent shall:
(1) act loyally for the principal’s benefit;
(2) act so as not to create a conflict of interest that impairs the agent’s ability to
act impartially in the principal’s best interests;
(3) act with the care, competence, and diligence ordinarily exercised by agents in similar
circumstances;
(4) keep a record of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions made on behalf of the
principal;
(5) cooperate with a person who has authority to make health-care decisions for the principal
to carry out the principal’s reasonable expectations to the extent actually known
by the agent and otherwise act in the principal’s best interests; and
(6) attempt to preserve the principal’s estate plan, to the extent actually known by the
agent, if preserving the plan is consistent with the principal’s best interests based
on all relevant factors, including:
(A) the value and nature of the principal’s property;
(B) the principal’s foreseeable obligations and need for maintenance;
(C) minimization of taxes, including income, estate, inheritance, generation-skipping
transfer, and gift taxes; and
(D) eligibility for a benefit, a program, or assistance under a statute or regulation.
(c) An agent who acts in good faith is not liable to any beneficiary of the principal’s
estate plan for failure to preserve the plan.
(d) An agent who acts with care, competence, and diligence for the best interests of the
principal is not liable solely because the agent also benefits from the act or has
an individual or conflicting interest in relation to the property or affairs of the
principal.
(e) If an agent is selected by the principal because of special skills or expertise possessed
by the agent or in reliance on the agent’s representation that the agent has special
skills or expertise, the special skills or expertise must be considered in determining
whether the agent has acted with care, competence, and diligence under the circumstances.
(f) Absent a breach of duty to the principal, an agent is not liable if the value of the
principal’s property declines.
(g) An agent who exercises authority to delegate to another person the authority granted
by the principal or who engages another person on behalf of the principal is not liable
for an act, error of judgment, or default of that person if the agent exercises care,
competence, and diligence in selecting and monitoring the person.
(h) Except as otherwise provided in the power of attorney, an agent is not required to
disclose receipts, disbursements, or transactions conducted on behalf of the principal
unless ordered by a court or requested by the principal, a guardian, a conservator,
another fiduciary acting for the principal, a governmental agency having authority
to protect the welfare of the principal, or, upon the death of the principal, by the
personal representative or successor in interest of the principal’s estate. If so
requested, within 30 days the agent shall comply with the request or provide a writing
or other record substantiating why additional time is needed and shall comply with
the request within an additional 30 days. (Added 2023, No. 60, § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.)