244.04 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 319. 244.05244.05 Execution of power of attorney. 244.05(1)(1) To execute a power of attorney, the principal must sign the power of attorney, or an individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal must sign the principal’s name on the power of attorney. 244.05(2)(2) A signature of the principal, or the signature of an individual signing on behalf of the principal, on a power of attorney is presumed to be genuine if the principal makes an acknowledgment of the power of attorney before a notarial officer authorized under ch. 140 to take acknowledgments. 244.05(3)(3) A signature of the principal, or the signature of an individual signing on behalf of the principal, on a power of attorney is presumed to be genuine if the signing is witnessed by 2 witnesses via simultaneous remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology if all of the following conditions are satisfied: 244.05(3)(a)(a) The signing is supervised by an attorney in good standing licensed by this state. The supervising attorney may serve as one of the remote witnesses. 244.05(3)(b)(b) The principal attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication. 244.05(3)(c)(c) Each remote witness attests to being physically located in this state during the 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication. 244.05(3)(d)(d) The principal and each of the remote witnesses identify themselves. If the principal and remote witnesses are not personally known to each other and to the supervising attorney, the principal and each of the remote witnesses display photo identification. 244.05(3)(e)(e) The principal identifies anyone else present in the same physical location as the principal and, if possible, the principal makes a visual sweep of the principal’s physical surroundings so that the supervising attorney and each remote witness can confirm the presence of any other person. 244.05(3)(f)(f) The principal displays the power of attorney, confirms the total number of pages and the page number of the page on which the principal’s signature will be affixed, and declares to the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney all of the following: 244.05(3)(f)2.2. That the document is the principal’s power of attorney. 244.05(3)(f)3.3. That the document is being executed as a voluntary act. 244.05(3)(g)(g) The principal, or another individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal, signs the power of attorney in a manner that allows each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney to see the execution. 244.05(3)(h)(h) The audiovisual communication technology used allows communication by which a person is able to see, hear, and communicate in an interactive way with another person in real time using electronic means, except that if the principal, a remote witness, or the supervising attorney has an impairment that affects hearing, sight, or speech, assistive technology or learned skills may be substituted for audio or visual if it allows that person to actively participate in the signing in real time. 244.05(3)(i)(i) The power of attorney indicates that it is being executed pursuant to this section. 244.05(3)(j)1.1. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. The supervising attorney then personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney to the remote witnesses within a reasonable time. The first remote witness to receive the original power of attorney signs the original power of attorney as a witness and forwards the entire signed original power of attorney by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the 2nd remote witness, who signs it as a witness and forwards the entire signed original power of attorney by personal delivery or U.S. mail or commercial courier service within a reasonable time to the supervising attorney. 244.05(3)(j)2.2. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed original power of attorney to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution and transmits by facsimile or electronic means a legible copy of the entire signed power of attorney directly to each remote witness within a reasonable time after execution. Each remote witness then signs the transmitted copy of the power of attorney as a witness and personally delivers or transmits by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the entire signed copy of the power of attorney to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after witnessing. The signed original and signed copies together shall constitute one original document, unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving the signed original and signed copies, compiles the signed original and signed copies into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by or on behalf of the principal, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original. 244.05(3)(j)3.3. The principal and each of the remote witnesses sign identical copies of the original. The principal, or another person at the direction of the principal, and each of the remote witnesses personally deliver or transmit by U.S. mail or commercial courier service the signed originals to the supervising attorney within a reasonable time after execution. All of the signed originals together shall constitute one original document, unless the supervising attorney, within a reasonable time after receiving all signed originals, compiles the originals into one document by attaching the signature pages of each remote witness to the original signed by or on behalf of the principal, in which case the compiled document shall constitute the original. 244.05(3)(k)(k) The supervising attorney completes an affidavit of compliance that contains all of the following information: 244.05(3)(k)2.2. The name and residential or business address of each remote witness. 244.05(3)(k)3.3. The address within this state where the principal was physically located at the time the principal signed the power of attorney. 244.05(3)(k)4.4. The address within this state where each remote witness was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the principal’s execution of the power of attorney. 244.05(3)(k)5.5. A statement that the principal and remote witnesses were all known to each other and the supervising attorney or a description of the form of photo identification used to confirm the identity of the principal and each remote witness. 244.05(3)(k)6.6. Confirmation that the principal declared that the principal is 18 years of age or older, that the document is the principal’s power of attorney, and that the document was being executed as the principal’s voluntary act. 244.05(3)(k)7.7. Confirmation that each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney were able to see the principal, or another individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal, sign, and that the principal appeared to be 18 years of age or older and acting voluntarily. 244.05(3)(k)8.8. A description of the audiovisual technology used for the signing process. 244.05(3)(k)9.9. If the power of attorney was not signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward the power of attorney to each remote witness for signing and to the supervising attorney after signing. 244.05(3)(k)10.10. If the power of attorney was signed in counterpart, a description of the method used to forward each counterpart to the supervising attorney and, if applicable, how and when the supervising attorney physically compiled the signed paper counterparts into a single document containing the power of attorney, the signature of the principal, and the signatures of the remote witnesses. 244.05(3)(k)11.11. The name, state bar number, and business or residential address of the supervising attorney. 244.05(3)(k)12.12. Any other information that the supervising attorney considers to be material with respect to the principal’s capacity to sign a valid power of attorney, the principal’s and witnesses’ compliance with this section, or any other information that the supervising attorney deems relevant to the execution of the power of attorney. 244.05(3)(L)(L) The affidavit of compliance is attached to the power of attorney. 244.05(3)(m)(m) An affidavit of compliance described in this subsection shall be substantially in the following form: AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE
State of ....
County of ....
The undersigned, being first duly sworn under oath, states as follows:
This Affidavit of Compliance is executed pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 244.05 to document the execution of the power of attorney of [name of principal] via remote appearance by 2-way, real-time audiovisual communication technology on [date]. 1. The name and residential address of the principal is ....
2. The name and [residential or business] address of remote witness 1 is ....
3. The name and [residential or business] address of remote witness 2 is ....
4. The address within the state of Wisconsin where the principal was physically located at the time the principal signed the power of attorney is ....
5. The address within the state of Wisconsin where remote witness 1 was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the principal’s execution of the power of attorney is ....
6. The address within the state of Wisconsin where remote witness 2 was physically located at the time the remote witness witnessed the principal’s execution of the power of attorney is ....
7. The principal and remote witnesses were all known to each other and to the supervising attorney. - OR - The principal and remote witnesses were not all known to each other and to the supervising attorney. Each produced the following form of photo identification to confirm his or her identity:
....
8. The principal declared that the principal is 18 years of age or older, that the document is the principal’s power of attorney, and that the document was being executed as the principal’s voluntary act.
9. Each of the remote witnesses and the supervising attorney were able to see the principal, or another individual 18 years of age or older at the express direction and in the physical presence of the principal, sign. The principal appeared to be 18 years of age or older and acting voluntarily.
10. The audiovisual technology used for the signing process was ....
11. The power of attorney was not signed in counterpart. The following methods were used to forward the power of attorney to each remote witness for signing and to the supervising attorney after signing. - OR - The power of attorney was signed in counterpart. The following methods were used to forward each counterpart to the supervising attorney. [If applicable] - The supervising attorney physically compiled the signed paper counterparts into a single document containing the power of attorney, the signature of the principal, and the signatures of the remote witnesses on [date] by [e.g., attaching page 7 from each counterpart signed by a remote witness to the back of the power of attorney signed by the principal].
12. The name, state bar number, and business or residential address of the supervising attorney is ....
13. [Optional] Other information that the supervising attorney considers to be material is as follows: ....
.... (signature of supervising attorney)
Subscribed and sworn to before me on .... (date) by .... (name of supervising attorney).
.... (signature of notarial officer)
Stamp
.... (Title of office)
[My commission expires: ....]
244.06244.06 Validity of power of attorney. 244.06(1)(1) A power of attorney executed in this state on or after September 1, 2010, is valid if its execution complies with s. 244.05. 244.06(2)(2) A power of attorney executed in this state before September 1, 2010, is valid if its execution complied with the law of this state as it existed at the time of execution. 244.06(3)(3) A power of attorney executed outside this state is valid in this state if, when the power of attorney was executed, the execution complied with one of the following: 244.06(3)(a)(a) The law of the jurisdiction that determines the meaning and effect of the power of attorney, as provided under s. 244.07. 244.06(4)(4) A photocopy or electronically transmitted copy of an original power of attorney has the same effect as the original. 244.06 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 319. 244.07244.07 Meaning and effect of power of attorney. 244.07(1)(1) The meaning and effect of a power of attorney is determined by the law of the jurisdiction indicated in the power of attorney and, in the absence of an indication of jurisdiction in the power of attorney, by the law of the jurisdiction in which the power of attorney was executed. 244.07(2)(2) Unless specifically stated, a power of attorney does not authorize gifting, self-dealing, or oral amendment of the power of attorney, and any such specific authority shall be strictly construed. 244.07 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 319. 244.08244.08 Nomination of guardian; relation of agent to court-appointed fiduciary. 244.08(1)(1) In a power of attorney, a principal may nominate a guardian of the principal’s estate or guardian of the principal’s person for consideration by the court if protective proceedings for the principal’s estate or person are begun after the principal executes the power of attorney. 244.08(2)(2) If, after a principal executes a power of attorney, a court appoints a conservator or guardian of the principal’s estate or other fiduciary charged with the management of some or all of the principal’s property, the agent is accountable to the fiduciary as well as to the principal. The power of attorney is not terminated and the agent’s authority continues unless limited, suspended, or terminated by the court. 244.08 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 319. 244.09244.09 When a power of attorney is effective. 244.09(1)(1) A power of attorney is effective when executed unless the principal provides in the power of attorney that it becomes effective at a future date or upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency. 244.09(2)(2) If a power of attorney becomes effective upon the occurrence of a future event or contingency, the principal, in the power of attorney, may authorize one or more persons to determine that the event or contingency has occurred. 244.09(3)(3) If a power of attorney becomes effective upon the principal’s incapacity and the principal has not authorized a person to determine whether the principal is incapacitated, or the person so authorized is unable or unwilling to make the determination, the power of attorney becomes effective upon a determination in a writing or other record by one of the following: 244.09(3)(a)(a) A physician licensed under ch. 448 or a psychologist who is licensed under ch. 455, who is exercising the temporary authorization to practice, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (o), in this state, or who is practicing under the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology, as defined in s. 455.50 (2) (b), that the principal is incapacitated within the meaning of s. 244.02 (7) (a). 244.09(3)(b)(b) An attorney at law, a judge, or an appropriate governmental official that the principal is incapacitated within the meaning of s. 244.02 (7) (b), (c), or (d). 244.09(3)(c)(c) A person authorized by the principal in the power of attorney to determine that the principal is incapacitated may act as the principal’s personal representative under 42 USC 1320d, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and applicable regulations, to obtain access to the principal’s health-care information and communicate with the principal’s health care provider. 244.09 HistoryHistory: 2009 a. 319; 2021 a. 131. 244.10244.10 Termination of power of attorney or agent’s authority. 244.10(1)(1) A power of attorney terminates when any of the following occurs:
