Chapter 244

244.20 244.20 Refusal to accept acknowledged power of attorney.

244.20(1) (1) A person may, in good faith, refuse to accept an acknowledged power of attorney within 10 business days of presentment if any of the following applies:

244.20(1)(a) (a) The person is not otherwise required to engage in a transaction with the principal in the same circumstances.

244.20(1)(b) (b) Engaging in a transaction with the agent or the principal in the same circumstances would be inconsistent with federal or state law.

244.20(1)(c) (c) The person has actual knowledge of the termination of the agent’s authority or of the power of attorney before exercise of the power of attorney.

244.20(1)(d) (d) A request for a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under s. 244.19 (4) is refused.

244.20(1)(e) (e) The person believes that the power of attorney is not valid, that the agent does not have the authority to perform the act requested, or that the person presenting the power of attorney is not the agent named in the power of attorney, whether or not a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under s. 244.19 (4) has been requested or provided.

244.20(1)(f) (f) The person makes, or has actual knowledge that another person has made, a report to the designated adult at risk or elder adult at risk agency, or to a law enforcement agency, stating a good faith belief that the principal may be subject to physical or financial abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment by the agent or a person acting for or with the agent.

244.20(1)(g) (g) The person brought, or has actual knowledge that another person has brought, an action under s. 244.16 for construction of a power of attorney or review of the agent’s conduct.

244.20(1)(h) (h) The power of attorney becomes effective upon the occurrence of an event or contingency, and neither a certification nor evidence of the occurrence of the event or contingency is presented to the person being asked to accept the power of attorney.

244.20(1)(i) (i) The person has any other reasonable belief that the power of attorney is illegal or unenforceable and should be refused.

244.20(2) (2) A person may not refuse to accept an acknowledged power of attorney if any of the following applies:

244.20(2)(a) (a) The person’s reason for refusal is based exclusively on the date the power of attorney was executed.

244.20(2)(b) (b) The person’s reason for refusal is based exclusively on a mandate that an additional or different power of attorney form must be used.

244.20(2)(c) (c) The person has no good faith basis for refusal under sub. (1).

244.20(3) (3) If a person requests a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under s. 244.19 (4), the person shall accept the power of attorney no later than 5 business days after receipt of the certification, translation, or opinion of counsel, provided that there is no other good faith reason to refuse under sub. (1).

244.20(4) (4) It is not a refusal to accept an acknowledged power of attorney if any of the following applies:

244.20(4)(a) (a) The person requests but does not require that an additional or different power of attorney form be used.

244.20(4)(b) (b) The person has requested but has not received a certification, a translation, or an opinion of counsel under s. 244.19 (4).

244.20(5) (5) If a person refuses to accept an acknowledged power of attorney in violation of this section, the person requesting the acceptance may request that a court order all of the following:

244.20(5)(a) (a) Acceptance of the power of attorney.

244.20(5)(b) (b) In any action or proceeding that confirms the validity of the power of attorney or mandates acceptance of the power of attorney, payment of reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), and costs by the person who refuses to accept the power of attorney.

244.20(6) (6) If a court determines that a proceeding to mandate acceptance of an acknowledged power of attorney was brought other than in good faith, the court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party.

244.20 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.21 244.21 Laws applicable to financial institutions and entities. This chapter does not supersede any other law applicable to financial institutions or insurance companies, and the other law controls if in conflict with this chapter.

244.21 History History: 2009 a. 319.

subch. II of ch. 244 SUBCHAPTER II

AUTHORITY

244.41 244.41 Authority that requires specific grant, grant of general authority.

244.41(1) (1) An agent under a power of attorney may do any of the following on behalf of the principal or with the principal’s property only if the power of attorney expressly grants the agent the authority and the exercise of that authority is not otherwise prohibited by another agreement or instrument to which the authority or property is subject:

244.41(1)(a) (a) Create, amend, revoke, or terminate an inter vivos trust.

244.41(1)(b) (b) Make a gift.

244.41(1)(c) (c) Create or change rights of survivorship.

244.41(1)(d) (d) Create or change a beneficiary designation.

244.41(1)(e) (e) Delegate authority granted under the power of attorney.

244.41(1)(f) (f) Waive the principal’s right to be a beneficiary of a joint and survivor annuity, including a survivor benefit under a retirement plan.

244.41(1)(g) (g) Exercise fiduciary powers that the principal has authority to delegate.

244.41(1)(h) (h) Disclaim property, including a power of appointment.

244.41(1)(i) (i) Access the content of an electronic communication, as defined in s. 711.03 (6), sent or received by the principal.

244.41(2) (2) Notwithstanding a grant of authority to do an act described in sub. (1), unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, an agent who is not a spouse or domestic partner of the principal, may not do any of the following:

244.41(2)(a) (a) Exercise authority under a power of attorney to create in the agent an interest in the principal’s property, whether by gift, right of survivorship, beneficiary designation, disclaimer, or otherwise.

244.41(2)(b) (b) Exercise authority under a power of attorney to create in an individual to whom the agent owes a legal obligation of support, an interest in the principal’s property, whether by gift, right of survivorship, beneficiary designation, disclaimer, or otherwise.

244.41(3) (3) Subject to subs. (1), (2), (4), and (5), if a power of attorney grants to an agent the authority to do all acts that a principal could do, the agent has the general authority described in ss. 244.44 to 244.56.

244.41(4) (4) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, a grant of authority to make a gift is subject to s. 244.57.

244.41(5) (5) Subject to subs. (1), (2), and (4), if the subjects over which authority is granted in a power of attorney are similar or overlap, the broadest authority controls.

244.41(6) (6) Authority granted in a power of attorney is exercisable with respect to property that the principal has when the power of attorney is executed or acquires later, whether or not the property is located in this state and whether or not the authority is exercised or the power of attorney is executed in this state.

244.41(7) (7) An act performed by an agent pursuant to a power of attorney has the same effect and inures to the benefit of and binds the principal and the principal’s successors in interest as if the principal had performed the act.

244.41 History History: 2009 a. 319; 2015 a. 300.

244.41 Annotation The Face of Elder Financial Exploitation. Johnson, Fioretti, & Trecartin. Wis. Law. Mar. 2020.

244.42 244.42 Incorporation of authority.

244.42(1) (1) An agent has the authority described in this subchapter if the power of attorney refers to general authority as indicated by section titles for ss. 244.44 to 244.56 or cites the section in which the authority is described.

244.42(2) (2) A reference in a power of attorney to general authority with respect to the descriptive term for a subject in ss. 244.44 to 244.56 or a citation to any of ss. 244.44 to 244.56 incorporates the entire section as if it were set out in full in the power of attorney.

244.42(3) (3) A principal may modify authority incorporated by reference.

244.42 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.43 244.43 Construction of authority generally. Except as otherwise provided in the power of attorney, by executing a power of attorney that incorporates by reference a subject described in ss. 244.44 to 244.56 or that grants to an agent authority to do all acts that a principal could do under s. 244.41 (3), a principal authorizes the agent, with respect to that subject, to do all of the following:

244.43(1) (1) Demand, receive, and obtain by any lawful means, money or another thing of value to which the principal is, may become, or claims to be entitled, and conserve, invest, disburse, or use anything so received or obtained for the purposes intended.

244.43(2) (2) Contract with any person, on terms agreeable to the agent, to accomplish a purpose of a transaction and perform, rescind, cancel, terminate, reform, restate, release, or modify the contract or another contract made by or on behalf of the principal.

244.43(3) (3) Execute, acknowledge, seal, deliver, file, or record any instrument or communication the agent considers desirable to accomplish a purpose of a transaction, including creating a schedule listing some or all of the principal’s property and attaching it to the power of attorney.

244.43(4) (4) Initiate, participate in, submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, oppose, or propose or accept a compromise with respect to a claim existing in favor of or against the principal or intervene in litigation relating to the claim.

244.43(5) (5) Seek on the principal’s behalf the assistance of a court or other governmental agency to carry out an act authorized in the power of attorney.

244.43(6) (6) Engage, compensate, and discharge an attorney, accountant, discretionary investment manager, expert witness, or other advisor.

244.43(7) (7) Prepare, execute, and file a record, report, or other document to safeguard or promote the principal’s interest under a statute, rule, or regulation.

244.43(8) (8) Communicate with any representative or employee of a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, on behalf of the principal.

244.43(9) (9) Access communications intended for, and communicate on behalf of, the principal by any means.

244.43(10) (10) Do any lawful act with respect to a subject described in ss. 244.44 to 244.56 and all property related to that subject.

244.43 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.44 244.44 Real property. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to real property authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.44(1) (1) Demand, buy, lease, receive, accept as a gift or as security for an extension of credit, or otherwise acquire or reject an interest in real property or a right incident to real property.

244.44(2) (2) Sell; exchange; convey with or without covenants, representations, or warranties; quit claim; release; surrender; retain title for security; encumber; partition; consent to partitioning; subject to an easement or covenant; subdivide; apply for zoning or other governmental permits; plat or consent to platting; develop; grant an option concerning; lease; sublease; contribute to an entity in exchange for an interest in that entity; or otherwise grant or dispose of an interest in real property or a right incident to real property.

244.44(3) (3) Pledge or mortgage an interest in real property or right incident to real property as security to borrow money or pay, renew, or extend the time of payment of a debt of the principal or a debt guaranteed by the principal.

244.44(4) (4) Release, assign, satisfy, or enforce by any lawful means a mortgage, deed of trust, conditional sale contract, encumbrance, lien, or other claim to real property which exists or is asserted.

244.44(5) (5) Manage or conserve an interest in real property or a right incident to real property owned or claimed to be owned by the principal, including by doing any of the following:

244.44(5)(a) (a) Insuring against liability or casualty or other loss.

244.44(5)(b) (b) Obtaining or regaining possession of or protecting the interest or right by litigation or otherwise.

244.44(5)(c) (c) Paying, assessing, compromising, or contesting taxes or assessments or applying for and receiving refunds in connection with taxes or assessments.

244.44(5)(d) (d) Purchasing supplies, hiring assistance or labor, and making repairs or alterations to the real property.

244.44(6) (6) Use, develop, alter, replace, remove, erect, or install structures or other improvements upon real property in or incident to which the principal has, or claims to have, an interest or right.

244.44(7) (7) Participate in a reorganization with respect to real property or an entity that owns an interest in or right incident to real property and receive, hold, and act with respect to stocks and bonds or other property received in a plan of reorganization, including by doing any of the following:

244.44(7)(a) (a) Selling or otherwise disposing of the stocks, bonds, or property.

244.44(7)(b) (b) Exercising or selling an option, right of conversion, or similar right with respect to the stocks, bonds, or property.

244.44(7)(c) (c) Exercising any voting rights in person or by proxy.

244.44(8) (8) Change the form of title of an interest in or right incident to real property.

244.44(9) (9) Dedicate to public use, with or without consideration, easements or other real property in which the principal has, or claims to have, an interest.

244.44 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.445 244.445 Digital property. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to digital property authorizes the agent, subject to s. 711.06 (1), to do all of the following:

244.445(1) (1) Find, access, manage, protect, distribute, dispose of, transfer, transfer ownership rights in, or otherwise control digital devices, and any digital property stored thereon, with digital devices to include desktops, laptops, tablets, peripherals, storage devices, mobile telephones, smartphones, and any similar digital device, either currently in existence or that may exist as technology develops.

244.445(2) (2) Access, manage, distribute, delete, terminate, transfer, transfer ownership rights in, or otherwise control digital accounts, other than the content of electronic communications, as defined in s. 711.03 (6), with digital accounts to include bank or other financial institution accounts, electronic mail accounts, blogs, software licenses, social network accounts, social media accounts, file-sharing and storage accounts, financial management accounts, domain registration accounts, domain name service accounts, Web hosting accounts, tax preparation service accounts, online store accounts, and affiliated programs currently in existence or that may exist as technology develops.

244.445(3) (3) Access, manage, distribute, delete, transfer, transfer ownership rights in, or otherwise control any digital property the principal may own or otherwise possess rights to, other than the content of electronic communications, as defined in s. 711.03 (6), regardless of the ownership of the digital device on which the digital property is stored or the ownership of the digital account within which the digital property is stored.

244.445 History History: 2015 a. 300; 2017 a. 365.