2020 Kansas Statutes
Chapter 58 - Personal And Real Property
Article 6 - Powers And Letters Of Attorney
58-654 General powers.

58-654. General powers.
(a) A principal may delegate to an attorney in fact in a power of attorney general powers to act in a fiduciary capacity on the principal's behalf with respect to all lawful subjects and purposes or with respect to one or more express subjects or purposes. A power of attorney with general powers may be durable or nondurable.

(b) If the power of attorney states that general powers are granted to the attorney in fact and further states in substance that it grants power to the attorney in fact to act with respect to all lawful subjects and purposes or that it grants general powers for general purposes or does not by its terms limit the power to the specific subject or purposes set out in the instrument, then the authority of the attorney in fact acting under the power of attorney shall extend to and include each and every action or power which an adult who is not disabled may carry out through an agent specifically authorized in the premises, with respect to any and all matters whatsoever, except as provided in subsection (f) and (g). When a power of attorney grants general powers to an attorney in fact to act with respect to all lawful subjects and purposes, the enumeration of one or more specific subjects or purposes does not limit the general authority granted by that power of attorney, unless otherwise provided in the power of attorney. An attorney in fact vested with general powers shall be authorized to execute a power of attorney required by any governmental agency or other legal entity on behalf of the principal, naming such attorney in fact as the attorney in fact authorized to enter into any transaction with such agency or legal entity.

(c) If the power of attorney states that general powers are granted to an attorney in fact with respect to one or more express subjects or purposes for which general powers are conferred, then the authority of the attorney in fact acting under the power of attorney shall extend to and include each and every action or power, but only with respect to the specific subjects or purposes expressed in the power of attorney that an adult who is not disabled may carry out through an agent specifically authorized in the premises, with respect to any and all matters whatsoever, except as provided in subsection (f) and (g).

(d) Except as provided in subsections (f) and (g), an attorney in fact with general powers has, with respect to the subjects or purposes for which the powers are conferred, all rights, power and authority to act for the principal that the principal would have with respect to the principal's own person or property, including property owned jointly or by the entireties with another or others, as an adult who is not disabled. Without limiting the foregoing an attorney in fact with general powers has, with respect to the subject or purposes of the power, complete discretion to make a decision for the principal, to act or not act, to consent or not consent to, or withdraw consent for, any act, and to execute and deliver or accept any deed, bill of sale, bill of lading, assignment, contract, note, security instrument, consent, receipt, release, proof of claim, petition or other pleading, tax document, notice, application, acknowledgment or other document necessary or convenient to implement or confirm any act, transaction or decision. An attorney in fact with general powers, whether power to act with respect to all lawful subjects and purposes, or only with respect to one or more express subjects or purposes, shall have the power, unless specifically denied by the terms of the power of attorney, to make, execute and deliver to or for the benefit of or at the request of a third person, who is requested to rely upon an action of the attorney in fact, an agreement indemnifying and holding harmless any third person or persons from any liability, claims or expenses, including legal expenses, incurred by any such third person by reason of acting or refraining from acting pursuant to the request of the attorney in fact. Such indemnity agreement shall be binding upon the principal who has executed such power of attorney and upon the principal's successor or successors in interest. No such indemnity agreement shall protect any third person from any liability, claims or expenses incurred by reason of the fact that, and to the extent that, the third person has honored the power of attorney for actions outside the scope of authority granted by the power of attorney. In addition, the attorney in fact has complete discretion to employ and compensate real estate agents, brokers, attorneys, accountants and subagents of all types to represent and act for the principal in any and all matters, including tax matters involving the United States government or any other government or taxing entity, including, but not limited to, the execution of supplemental or additional powers of attorney in the name of the principal in form that may be required or preferred by any such taxing entity or other third person, and to deal with any or all third persons in the name of the principal without limitation. No such supplemental or additional power of attorney shall broaden the scope of authority granted to the attorney in fact in the original power of attorney executed by the principal.

(e) An attorney in fact, who is granted general powers for all subjects and purposes or with respect to any express subjects or purposes, shall exercise the powers conferred according to the principal's instructions, in the principal's best interest, in good faith, prudently and in accordance with K.S.A. 58-655 and 58-656, and amendments thereto.

(f) Any power of attorney, whether or not it grants general powers for all subjects and purposes or with respect to express subjects or purposes, shall be construed to grant power or authority to an attorney in fact to carry out any of the actions described in this subsection only if the actions are expressly enumerated and authorized in the power of attorney. Any power of attorney may grant power or authority to an attorney in fact to carry out any of the following actions if the actions are expressly authorized in the power of attorney:

(1) To execute, amend or revoke any trust agreement;

(2) to fund with the principal's assets any trust not created by the principal;

(3) to make or revoke a gift of the principal's property in trust or otherwise;

(4) to disclaim a gift or devise of property to or for the benefit of the principal;

(5) to create or change survivorship interests in the principal's property or in property in which the principal may have an interest. The inclusion of the authority set out in this paragraph shall not be necessary in order to grant to an attorney in fact acting under a power of attorney granting general powers with respect to all lawful subjects and purposes the authority to withdraw funds or other property from any account, contract or other similar arrangement held in the names of the principal and one or more other persons with any financial institution, brokerage company or other depository to the same extent that the principal would be authorized to do if the principal were present, not disabled and seeking to act in the principal's own behalf;

(6) to designate or change the designation of beneficiaries to receive any property, benefit or contract right on the principal's death;

(7) to give or withhold consent to an autopsy or postmortem examination;

(8) to make a gift of, or decline to make a gift of, the principal's body parts under the revised uniform anatomical gift act, K.S.A. 65-3220 through 65-3244, and amendments thereto;

(9) to nominate a guardian or conservator for the principal; and if so stated in the power of attorney, the attorney in fact may nominate such attorney in fact's self as such;

(10) to give consent on behalf of the principal to the sale, gift, transfer, mortgage or other alienation of the principal's homestead or interest therein if:

(A) The principal's spouse, personally or through such spouse's attorney in fact, has also consented to such alienation;

(B) the power of attorney specifically describes the homestead by reference to a legal description and the street address of the property; and

(C) the principal's spouse, in a written document duly acknowledged by the spouse, has stated such spouse's consent that the attorney in fact may alienate the interests, in whole or in part, of the principal in the described homestead and, further, the spouse agrees that the consent of the attorney in fact will constitute the consent of the principal required by section 9 of article 15 of the constitution of the state of Kansas. Nothing herein shall be construed as a limitation or abridgement of the right of the spouse of the principal to consent or withhold such spouse's consent to the alienation of the spouse's homestead, or any rights therein, under section 9 of article 15 of the constitution of the state of Kansas;

(11) to designate one or more substitute or successor or additional attorneys in fact;

(12) to delegate any or all powers granted in a power of attorney pursuant to K.S.A. 58-660(a), and amendments thereto;

(13) to exercise authority over the content of an electronic communication of the principal pursuant to K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 58-4809, and amendments thereto; or

(14) to pay reasonable expenses incurred for the funeral and burial or other disposition of the body of the principal.

(g) No power of attorney, whether or not it delegates general powers, may delegate or grant power or authority to an attorney in fact to do or carry out any of the following actions for the principal:

(1) To make, publish, declare, amend or revoke a will for the principal;

(2) to make, execute, modify or revoke a declaration under K.S.A. 65-28,101 et seq., and amendments thereto, for the principal or to make, execute, modify or revoke a do not resuscitate directive under K.S.A. 65-4941, and amendments thereto, for the principal or to make, execute, modify or revoke a durable power of attorney for health care decisions pursuant to K.S.A. 58-625 et seq., and amendments thereto, for the principal;

(3) to require the principal, against the principal's will, to take any action or to refrain from taking any action; or

(4) to carry out any actions specifically forbidden by the principal while not under any disability or incapacity.

(h) A third person may freely rely on, contract and deal with an attorney in fact delegated general powers with respect to the subjects and purposes encompassed or expressed in the power of attorney without regard to whether the power of attorney expressly identifies the specific property, account, security, storage facility or matter as being within the scope of a subject or purpose contained in the power of attorney, and without regard to whether the power of attorney expressly authorizes the specific act, transaction or decision by the attorney in fact.

(i) It is the policy of this state that an attorney in fact acting pursuant to the provisions of a power of attorney granting general powers shall be accorded the same rights and privileges with respect to the personal welfare, property and business interests of the principal, and if the power of attorney enumerate some express subjects or purposes, with respect to those subjects or purposes, as if the principal was personally present and acting or seeking to act; and any provision of law and any purported waiver, consent or agreement executed or granted by the principal to the contrary shall be void and unenforceable.

(j) K.S.A. 58-650 through 58-665, and amendments thereto, shall not be construed to preclude any person or business enterprise from providing in a contract with the principal as to the procedure that thereafter must be followed by the principal or the principal's attorney in fact in order to give a valid notice to the person or business enterprise of any modification or termination of the appointment of an attorney in fact by the principal. Any such contractual provision for notice shall be valid and binding on the principal and the principal's successors so long as such provision is reasonably capable of being carried out.

History: L. 2003, ch. 58, § 5; L. 2004, ch. 50, § 1; L. 2007, ch. 127, § 29; L. 2017, ch. 19, § 20; July 1.