Colorado Code
Part 7 - Uniform Power of Attorney Act
§ 15-14-702. Definitions

Except as otherwise provided under this part 7, and except as the context may otherwise require, in this part 7:





















Source: L. 2009: Entire part added, (HB 09-1198), ch. 106, p. 384, § 1, effective April 9. L. 2011: IP amended, (SB 11-083), ch. 101, p. 310, § 20, effective August 10.
Although most of the definitions in Section 15-14-702 are self-explanatory, a few of the terms warrant further comment.
"Agent" replaces the term "attorney in fact" used in the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act to avoid confusion in the lay public about the meaning of the term and the difference between an attorney in fact and an attorney at law. Agent was also used in the Uniform Statutory Form Power of Attorney Act which this Act supersedes.
"Incapacity" replaces the term "disability" used in the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act in recognition that disability does not necessarily render an individual incapable of property and business management. The definition of incapacity stresses the operative consequences of the individual's impairment inability to manage property and business affairs rather than the impairment itself. The definition of incapacity in the Act is also consistent with the standard for appointment of a conservator under Section 401 of the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act as amended in 1997.
The definition of "power of attorney" clarifies that the term applies to any grant of authority in a writing or other record from a principal to an agent which appears from the grant to be a power of attorney, without regard to whether the words "power of attorney" are actually used in the grant.
"Presently exercisable general power of appointment" is defined to clarify that where the phrase appears in the Act it does not include a power exercisable by the principal in a fiduciary capacity or exercisable only by will. Cf. Restatement (Third) of Property (Wills and Don. Trans.) § 19.8 cmt. d (Tentative Draft No. 5, approved 2006) (noting that unless the donor of a presently exercisable power of attorney has manifested a contrary intent, it is assumed that the donor intends that the donee's agent be permitted to exercise the power for the benefit of the donee). Including in a power of attorney the authority to exercise a presently exercisable general power of appointment held by the principal is consistent with the objective of giving an agent comprehensive management authority over the principal's property and financial affairs. The term appears in Section 15-14-734 (Estates, Trusts, and Other Beneficial Interests) in the context of authority to exercise for the benefit of the principal a presently exercisable general power of appointment held by the principal (see Section 15-14-734(2)(c)), and in Section 15-14-740 (Gifts) in the context of authority to exercise for the benefit of someone else a presently exercisable general power of appointment held by the principal (see Section 15-14-740(b)(1)). The term is also incorporated by reference when using the statutory form in Section 15-14-741 to grant authority with respect to "Estates, Trusts, and Other Beneficial Interests" or authority with respect to "Gifts." If a principal wishes to delegate authority to exercise a power that the principal holds in a fiduciary capacity, Section 15-14-724(1)(g) requires that the power of attorney contain an express grant of such authority. Furthermore, delegation of a power held in a fiduciary capacity is possible only if the principal has authority to delegate the power, and the agent's authority is necessarily limited by whatever terms govern the principal's ability to exercise the power.

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