Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 702 - Powers of appointment.
702.05 - Exercise of a power of appointment.

702.05 Exercise of a power of appointment.
(1) Capacity to exercise a power of appointment. A power of appointment can be exercised only by a person who would have the capacity to transfer the property covered by the power of appointment.
(2) Kind of instrument and formalities of execution. A donee can exercise a power of appointment only by an instrument which meets the intent of the donor as to kind of instrument and formalities of execution. If the power of appointment is exercisable by will, this means a will executed with the formalities necessary for a valid will. A written instrument signed by the donee is sufficient if the donor fails to require any additional formalities or fails to indicate a will, but if the power of appointment is to appoint interests in land, it can be exercised only by an instrument executed with sufficient formalities for that purpose.
(3) Consent of 3rd persons. When the consent of the donor or of any other person is required by the donor for the exercise of a power of appointment, such consent must be expressed in the creating instrument exercising the power of appointment or in a separate written instrument, signed in either case by the persons whose consent is required. If any person whose consent is required dies or becomes legally incapable of consenting, the power of appointment may be exercised by the donee without the consent of that person unless the donor has manifested a contrary intent in the creating instrument.
(4) Power of appointment vested in 2 or more donees. Unless the donor manifests a contrary intent, when a power of appointment is vested in 2 or more persons, all must unite in its exercise, but if one or more of the donees dies, becomes incapable of exercising the power of appointment, or renounces, releases, or disclaims the power of appointment, the power of appointment may be exercised by the others.
(5) Presumption of nonexercise of a power of appointment. A personal representative, trustee, or other fiduciary who holds property subject to a power of appointment may administer that property as if the power of appointment was not exercised if the personal representative, trustee, or other fiduciary has no notice of the existence of any of the following within 6 months after the death of the donee of the power of appointment:
(a) A document purporting to be a will of the donee of the power of appointment if the power of appointment is exercisable by a will.
(b) Some other documentation of the donee purporting to exercise the power of appointment if the power of appointment is exercisable other than by a will.
History: 1971 c. 66; 1977 c. 309; 2005 a. 253; 2013 a. 92.
A warranty deed grants a present fee simple interest. A purported reservation of a power of appointment in a warranty deed is ineffective. Powers may be reserved and a lesser interests granted, but not by warranty deed. Lucareli v. Lucareli, 2000 WI App 133, 237 Wis. 2d 487, 614 N.W.2d 60, 99-1679.

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