Colorado Code
Part 7 - Uniform Power of Attorney Act
§ 15-14-724. Authority That Requires Specific Grant - Grant of General Authority

Source: L. 2009: Entire part added, (HB 09-1198), ch. 106, p. 396, § 1, effective April 9. L. 2014: (1)(g)(I) amended, (HB 14-1322), ch. 296, p. 1236, § 8, effective August 6.
This section distinguishes between grants of specific authority that require express language in a power of attorney and grants of general authority. Section 15-14-724(1) enumerates the acts that require an express grant of specific authority and which may not be inferred from a grant of general authority. This approach follows a growing trend among states to require express specific authority for such actions as making a gift, creating or revoking a trust, and using other non-probate estate planning devices such as survivorship interests and beneficiary designations. See, e.g., Cal. Prob. Code § 4264 (West Supp. 2006); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-654(f) (2005); Mo. Ann. Stat. § 404.710 (West 2001); Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 11.94.050 (West Supp. 2006). The rationale for requiring a grant of specific authority to perform the acts enumerated in subsection (1) is the risk those acts pose to the principal's property and estate plan. Although risky, such authority may nevertheless be necessary to effectuate the principal's property management and estate planning objectives. Ideally, these are matters about which the principal will seek advise before granting authority to an agent.
The Act does not contain statutory construction language for any of the acts enumerated in subsection (1) other than the making of gifts ( see Section 217). Because a gift of the principal's property reduces the principal's estate, the Act, like a number of state statutes, sets default per-donee limits on gift amounts. See, e.g. , N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 5-1502M (McKinney 2001); 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5603(a)(2)(ii) (West 2005). However, as with any authority incorporated by reference in a power of attorney, the principal may enlarge or restrict the default parameters set by the Act.
With respect to other acts listed in Section 15-14-724(1), the Act contemplates that the principal will specify any special instructions in the power of attorney to further define or limit the authority granted. For example, if a principal grants authority to create or change rights of survivorship (subsection (1)(c)) or beneficiary designations (subsection (1)(d)) the principal may choose to restrict that authority to specifically identified property interests, accounts, or contracts. Principals should carefully consider not only whether to authorize any of the acts listed in Section 15-14-724(1), but also whether to limit the scope of such actions.
Subsection (2) contains an additional safeguard for the principal. It establishes as a default rule that an agent who is not an ancestor, spouse, or descendant of the principal may not exercise authority to create in the agent or in an individual the agent is legally obligated to support, an interest in the principal's property. For example, a non-relative agent with gift making authority could not make a gift to the agent or a dependent of the agent without the principal's express authority in the power of attorney. In contrast, a spouse-agent with express gift-making authority could implement the principal's expectation that annual family gifts be continued without additional authority in the power of attorney.
Notwithstanding a grant of authority to perform any of the enumerated acts in subsection (1), an agent is bound by the mandatory fiduciary duties set forth in Section 15-14-714(1) as well as the default duties that the principal has not modified. For a list of these default rules, see Section 15-14-741 Comment. If the principal's expectations for the performance of authorized acts potentially conflict with those duties, then clarification of the principal's expectations, modification of the default duties, or both, may be advisable. See Section 15-14-714 Comment.
Authority for acts and subject matters other than those listed in Section 15-14-724(1) may be granted either through incorporation by reference ( see Section 15-14-725) or, if the principal wishes to grant comprehensive general authority, by a grant of authority to do all the acts that a principal could do. A broad grant of general authority is interpreted under the Act as including all of the subject matters and authority described in Sections 15-14-727 through 15-14-739 ( see subsection (3)).

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