How to Increase the Chance That Your Power of Attorney Will Be Honored
November 1, 2021
Q. I have heard friends complain that their parent’s financial power of attorney was not honored by their bank. Is there a way to avoid this?
Unfortunately, we hear that complaint from time to time. While there may be no way to draft a power of attorney that completely eliminate the risk that it will not be honored at the time of need, here is my short list of steps you can take to minimize the risk:
- Sign the Bank’s Own Forms: most banks and other financial institutions have their own, short form Power of Attorney with which they are familiar. While the bank’s own forms are more limited and are usually targeted to specific accounts-- in addition to your attorney-drafted document-- usually eliminates the risk that your designated agent will have problems at that bank down the road.
- Include Hold Harmless Provisions in your DPOA: financial custodians are concerned about their exposure if they mistakenly rely upon a durable Power of Attorney (“DPOA”) that appears valid on its face. It sometimes helps if your DPOA includes specific language that a bank or other custodian will be held harmless if it relies, in good faith, upon a DPOA presented to it.
- Fully Describe Real Property: title companies are sometimes reluctant to honor a DPOA that refers, generally, to “all real property”. Their comfort increases dramatically if the DPOA recites, specifically, the full legal description of each piece of real property covered by the DPOA.
- Preserve Evidence of Capacity: if you anticipate any question down the road as to whether an elderly signer knew what he was signing at the time the DPOA was executed, consider asking him to secure a letter from his doctor that the elder has full capacity to sign such documents. That letter can then be kept on file to be shown to any financial institution should such concern later arise.
- Keep the DPOA Current: third parties are often concerned if a DPOA has been signed so long ago so that it is “stale” in their eyes. I recommend re-executing a financial DPOA at least every 3 to 5 years and, if possible, annually.
- Offer a 4305 affidavit: custodians are sometimes concerned that the DPOA may have previously been revoked. To allay that concern, the agent can submit an affidavit to the custodian, made pursuant to section 4305 of the Probate Code, that the DPOA has not been revoked. Once completed, that affidavit becomes conclusive proof of non-revocation.
- Anticipate Language That the Custodian May Prefer: if the DPOA is being created to be used at a specific bank or title company, ask whether it prefers specific language in the DPOA and, if so, incorporate same in your document.
- Legal Proceedings to Enforce Acceptance: as a last resort, consider a lawsuit. The law provides that a third party who refuses to honor a DPOA, after being provided a 4305 affidavit, may be liable for the petitioner’s attorney’s fees incurred in the court proceeding. Bringing this to the custodian’s attention often generates the desired compliance.
Contact us in Belmont, Massachusetts, at (617) 489-5919 for comprehensive estate planning from attorneys with experience.
1577 Spring Hill Road, Suite 310, Vienna, VA 22182 | 703-942-5711 | naela@naela.org | www.NAELA.org National Elder Law Month – May May is National Elder Law Month, a time designated by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) which I have been a member for over 25 years, to raise awareness about the legal, health, social, and financial issues faced by older adults and the resources available to support them. As a member of NAELA — the leading professional association dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to older adults and individuals with disabilities — I recognize the valuable public service that Law Office of Dale J. Tamburro provides to the residents of towns and cities that I provide seminar and workshops at. In light of our shared commitment to community support, I would like to invite you my seminars in May and June. These events are designed to educate the public on various topics related to elder law. In May we are focusing on Aging in Place, what to consider if you choose to stay home and alternatively if you decide to downsize what are the most important issues to be concerned with. National Elder Law Month is the perfect time for us to work together in raising awareness about these important issues and ensuring that older Americans, their families, and caregivers have access to the information they need. I would love the opportunity to discuss how we can partner on this initiative. Please let me know if you are interested or if you would like more details. I look forward to the possibility of working together to serve our community. Sincerely, Dale J. Tamburro
Owning a vacation home is a special privilege—but deciding what happens to it after you’re gone takes careful planning. Many parents hope to keep the home in the family, but doing so can be more complicated than expected. While meant to be fun and relaxing places to get away from everyday life, vacation houses can cause problems between siblings after their parents pass away. Some siblings may want to use the house, while others may need cash and want to sell. Disagreements can also arise over maintenance costs, taxes, and scheduling use of the home. One common option is to leave the property to your children in your will. However, if they inherit it equally as joint tenants or tenants in common and one sibling wants out, that sibling can force a sale if the others can’t afford to buy them out. Before deciding to pass the home on directly, consider holding a family meeting. Ask your children if they all want to keep the property and discuss logistics such as upkeep, taxes, and scheduling. Putting a written agreement in place, including a buyout plan, can help avoid future disputes. The buyout amount could be less than market value, and payments can be made over time; it's really completely up to the family. Other Options : Instead of giving the home outright, you could place it in a trust or a Limited Liability Company (LLC). LLCs are increasingly being used for vacations homes. Using an LLC allows parents to transfer interest in the LLC to their children while still retaining control. Parents can use the annual gift tax exclusion to slowly gift their children additional interest in the LLC each year. The LLC agreement can designate a property manager, provide instructions on maintenance costs and property taxes, and include buyout options. Property in an LLC is also protected from creditors. Another option is a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT), which allows parents to live in the home for a set number of years, after which ownership transfers to the children. QPRTs can offer significant tax savings, but they are complex and must be set up carefully to be effective.
