Chapter 244

244.50 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.51 244.51 Estates, trusts, and other beneficial interests.

244.51(1) (1) In this section, “estates, trusts, and other beneficial interests” means a trust, probate estate, guardianship, conservatorship, escrow, or custodianship or a fund from which the principal is, may become, or claims to be, entitled to a share or payment.

244.51(2) (2) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to estates, trusts, and other beneficial interests authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.51(2)(a) (a) Accept, receive, receipt for, sell, assign, pledge, or exchange a share in or payment from an estate, trust, or beneficial interest.

244.51(2)(b) (b) Demand or obtain money or another thing of value to which the principal is, may become, or claims to be, entitled by reason of an estate, trust, or beneficial interest, by litigation or otherwise.

244.51(2)(c) (c) Exercise for the benefit of the principal a presently exercisable general power of appointment held by the principal.

244.51(2)(d) (d) Initiate, participate in, submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, oppose, or propose or accept a compromise with respect to litigation to ascertain the meaning, validity, or effect of a deed, will, declaration of trust, or other instrument or transaction affecting the interest of the principal.

244.51(2)(e) (e) Initiate, participate in, submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, oppose, or propose or accept a compromise with respect to litigation to remove, substitute, or surcharge a fiduciary.

244.51(2)(f) (f) Conserve, invest, disburse, or use anything received for an authorized purpose.

244.51(2)(g) (g) Transfer an interest of the principal in real property, stocks and bonds, accounts with financial institutions or securities intermediaries, insurance, annuities, and other property to the trustee of a revocable trust created by the principal as settlor.

244.51(2)(h) (h) Sign a waiver or consent in a probate matter.

244.51(2)(i) (i) Reject, renounce, disclaim, release, or consent to a reduction in or modification of a share in or payment from an estate, trust, or beneficial interest.

244.51 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.52 244.52 Claims and litigation. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to claims and litigation authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.52(1) (1) Assert and maintain before a court or administrative agency a claim, claim for relief, cause of action, counterclaim, offset, recoupment, or defense, including an action to recover property or other thing of value, recover damages sustained by the principal, eliminate or modify tax liability, or seek an injunction, specific performance, or other relief.

244.52(2) (2) Bring an action to determine adverse claims or intervene or otherwise participate in litigation.

244.52(3) (3) Seek an attachment, garnishment, order of arrest, or other preliminary, provisional, or intermediate relief and use any available procedure to effect or satisfy a judgment, order, or decree.

244.52(4) (4) Make or accept a tender, offer of judgment, or admission of facts, submit a controversy on an agreed statement of facts, consent to examination, and bind the principal in litigation.

244.52(5) (5) Submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, and propose or accept a compromise.

244.52(6) (6) Waive the issuance and service of process upon the principal, accept service of process, appear for the principal, designate persons upon which process directed to the principal may be served, execute and file or deliver stipulations on the principal’s behalf, verify pleadings, seek appellate review, procure and give surety and indemnity bonds, contract and pay for the preparation and printing of records and briefs, receive, execute, and file or deliver a consent, waiver, release, confession of judgment, satisfaction of judgment, notice, agreement, or other instrument in connection with the prosecution, settlement, or defense of a claim or litigation.

244.52(7) (7) Act for the principal with respect to bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or involuntary, concerning the principal or some other person, or with respect to a reorganization, receivership, or application for the appointment of a receiver or trustee which affects an interest of the principal in property or other thing of value.

244.52(8) (8) Pay a judgment, award, or order against the principal or a settlement made in connection with a claim or litigation.

244.52(9) (9) Receive money or other thing of value paid in settlement of or as proceeds of a claim or litigation.

244.52 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.53 244.53 Personal and family maintenance.

244.53(1) (1) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to personal and family maintenance authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.53(1)(a) (a) Perform the acts necessary to maintain the customary standard of living of the principal, the principal’s spouse or the principal’s domestic partner, and the following individuals, whether living when the power of attorney is executed or later born:

244.53(1)(a)1. 1. The principal’s children.

244.53(1)(a)2. 2. Other individuals legally entitled to be supported by the principal.

244.53(1)(a)3. 3. The individuals whom the principal has customarily supported or indicated the intent to support.

244.53(1)(b) (b) Make periodic payments of child support and other family maintenance required by a court or governmental agency or an agreement to which the principal is a party.

244.53(1)(c) (c) Provide living quarters for the individuals described in par. (a) by doing any of the following:

244.53(1)(c)1. 1. Purchasing, leasing, or entering into a contract.

244.53(1)(c)2. 2. Paying the operating costs, including interest, amortization payments, repairs, improvements, and taxes, for premises owned by the principal or occupied by those individuals.

244.53(1)(d) (d) Provide normal domestic help, usual vacations and travel expenses, and funds for shelter, clothing, food, appropriate education, including postsecondary and vocational education, and other current living costs for the individuals described in par. (a).

244.53(1)(e) (e) Pay expenses for necessary health care and custodial care on behalf of the individuals described in par. (a).

244.53(1)(f) (f) Act as the principal’s personal representative under 42 USC 1320d, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and applicable regulations, in making decisions related to the past, present, or future payment for the provision of health care consented to by the principal or anyone authorized under the law of this state to consent to health care on behalf of the principal.

244.53(1)(g) (g) Continue any provision made by the principal for motor vehicles or other means of transportation, including registering, licensing, insuring, and replacing the vehicles, for the individuals described in par. (a).

244.53(1)(h) (h) Maintain credit and debit accounts for the convenience of the individuals described in par. (a) and open new accounts.

244.53(1)(i) (i) Continue payments incidental to the membership or affiliation of the principal in a religious institution, club, society, order, or other organization or to continue contributions to those organizations.

244.53(2) (2) Authority with respect to personal and family maintenance is neither dependent upon, nor limited by, authority that an agent may or may not have with respect to gifts under this chapter.

244.53 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.54 244.54 Benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service.

244.54(1) (1) In this section, “benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service” means any benefit, program or assistance provided under a statute, rule, or regulation, including social security, medicare, and medicaid.

244.54(2) (2) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to benefits from governmental programs or civil or military service authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.54(2)(a) (a) Execute vouchers in the name of the principal for allowances and reimbursements payable by the United States or a foreign government or by a state or subdivision of a state to the principal, including allowances and reimbursements for transportation of the individuals described in s. 244.53 (1) (a), and for shipment of their household effects.

244.54(2)(b) (b) Take possession and order the removal and shipment of property of the principal from a post, warehouse, depot, dock, or other place of storage or safekeeping, either governmental or private, and execute and deliver a release, voucher, receipt, bill of lading, shipping ticket, certificate, or other instrument for that purpose.

244.54(2)(c) (c) Enroll in, apply for, select, reject, change, amend, or discontinue, on the principal’s behalf, a benefit or program.

244.54(2)(d) (d) Prepare, file, and maintain a claim of the principal for a benefit or assistance, financial or otherwise, to which the principal may be entitled under a statute, rule, or regulation.

244.54(2)(e) (e) Initiate, participate in, submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, oppose, or propose or accept a compromise with respect to litigation concerning any benefit or assistance the principal may be entitled to receive under a statute, rule, or regulation.

244.54(2)(f) (f) Receive the financial proceeds of a claim described in par. (d) and conserve, invest, disburse, or use for a lawful purpose anything so received.

244.54 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.55 244.55 Retirement plans.

244.55(1) (1) In this section, “retirement plan” means a plan or account created by an employer, the principal, or another individual to provide retirement benefits or deferred compensation of which the principal is a participant, beneficiary, or owner, including the following plans or accounts:

244.55(1)(a) (a) An individual retirement account under section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(b) (b) A Roth individual retirement account under section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(c) (c) A deemed individual retirement account under section 408 (q) of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(d) (d) An annuity or mutual fund custodial account under section 403 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(e) (e) A pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or other retirement plan qualified under section 401 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(f) (f) A plan under section 457 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(1)(g) (g) A nonqualified deferred compensation plan under section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.55(2) (2) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to retirement plans authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.55(2)(a) (a) Select the form and timing of payments under a retirement plan and withdraw benefits from a plan.

244.55(2)(b) (b) Make a rollover, including a direct trustee-to-trustee rollover, of benefits from one retirement plan to another.

244.55(2)(c) (c) Establish a retirement plan in the principal’s name.

244.55(2)(d) (d) Make contributions to a retirement plan.

244.55(2)(e) (e) Exercise investment powers available under a retirement plan.

244.55(2)(f) (f) Borrow from, sell assets to, or purchase assets from a retirement plan.

244.55 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.56 244.56 Taxes. Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to taxes authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.56(1) (1) Prepare, sign, and file federal, state, local, and foreign income, gift, payroll, property, Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and other tax returns, claims for refunds, requests for extension of time, petitions regarding tax matters, and any other tax-related documents, including receipts, offers, waivers, consents, including consents and agreements under section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code, closing agreements, and any power of attorney required by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority with respect to a tax year upon which the statute of limitations has not run and the following 25 tax years.

244.56(2) (2) Pay taxes due, collect refunds, post bonds, receive confidential information, and contest deficiencies determined by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority.

244.56(3) (3) Exercise any election available to the principal under federal, state, local, or foreign tax law.

244.56(4) (4) Act for the principal in all tax matters for all periods before the Internal Revenue Service, or other taxing authority.

244.56 History History: 2009 a. 319; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

244.57 244.57 Gifts.

244.57(1) (1) In this section, a gift “for the benefit of” a person includes a gift to a trust, an account under ss. 54.854 to 54.898, and a tuition savings account or prepaid tuition plan as defined under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

244.57(2) (2) Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a power of attorney granting general authority with respect to gifts authorizes the agent to do all of the following:

244.57(2)(a) (a) Make outright to, or for the benefit of, a person, a gift of any of the principal’s property, including by the exercise of a presently exercisable general power of appointment held by the principal, in an amount per donee not to exceed the annual dollar limits of the federal gift tax exclusion under section 2503 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code, without regard to whether the federal gift tax exclusion applies to the gift, or if the principal’s spouse agrees to consent to a split gift under section 2513 of the Internal Revenue Code, in an amount per donee not to exceed twice the annual federal gift tax exclusion limit.

244.57(2)(b) (b) Consent, under section 2513 of the Internal Revenue Code, to the splitting of a gift made by the principal’s spouse in an amount per donee not to exceed the aggregate annual gift tax exclusions for both spouses.

244.57(2)(c) (c) Make a gift of the principal’s property only as the agent determines is consistent with the principal’s objectives if actually known by the agent and, if unknown, as the agent determines is consistent with the principal’s best interest based on all relevant factors, including all of the following:

244.57(2)(c)1. 1. The value and nature of the principal’s property.

244.57(2)(c)2. 2. The principal’s foreseeable obligations and need for maintenance.

244.57(2)(c)3. 3. Minimization of taxes, including income, estate, inheritance, generation skipping transfer, and gift taxes.

244.57(2)(c)4. 4. Eligibility for a benefit, a program, or assistance under a statute, rule, or regulation.

244.57(2)(c)5. 5. The principal’s personal history of making or joining in making gifts.

244.57 History History: 2009 a. 319.

244.61 244.61 Statutory Form Power of Attorney for Finances and Property. A document substantially in the following form may be used to create a statutory form power of attorney that has the meaning and effect prescribed by this chapter. An appendix shall be attached to this form that includes the text of ss. 244.44 to 244.56. The appendix is for definitions only. The agent has powers only regarding the subjects initialed on the form.