New York State Dramatically Changes Their Statutory Law on Power of Attorney Abuse

Written by Adam Peck Category: Elder Law January 26th, 2013 3 min read

As of September 1, 2009 significant changes to powers of attorney take effect in New York State. A power of attorney is an instrument authorizing someone to act on your behalf and can be a very effective tool in the event of disability and incapacity.

However, prior to the current changes in the law, powers of attorney were powerful tools that also led to cases of financial exploitation and abuse. While underreported, the annual financial loss by victims of elder financial abuse is estimated to be at least $2.6 billion. In addition, financial elder abuse has been characterized by experts as “the crime of the 21st century.”

The statutory changes going into effect today are long overdue, and substantially remedy potential financial exploitation and abuse of the principal (the person granting the power of attorney) by the agent (the person getting power of attorney). The changes in the statute include:

If the principal wants the agent to have the authority to make gifts, additional requirements must be met, including execution and witnessing of a “major gifts rider.”

Agents will now be subject to a “prudent person standard of care,” with defined responsibilities. This requires keeping records (with receipts) of the agent’s transactions.

There is an optional provision authorizing the principal to appoint a “monitor” to request and receive records of transactions by the agent.

The monitor, a government official and the guardian of the principal and other designated entities, may require the agent to provide the record of transactions and a copy of the power attorney on 15 days’ notice.

A special court proceeding is now available for a number of purposes, including compelling the agent to provide the record and power of attorney; determining whether the power of attorney is valid; determining whether the power of attorney was procured through duress, fraud or undue influence; and even removing the agent upon the grounds that the agent who has violated, or is unfit, unable or unwilling to perform his or her fiduciary duties.

Most of these changes apply only to powers of attorney created on or after today. However, the provisions regarding fiduciary responsibilities apply to all powers of attorney.

These new provisions have important consequences for both the agent and the principal, requiring both to consider carefully and understand their respective rights and responsibilities prior to entering into the new power of attorney agreement. We hope these changes will effectively curtail the financial exploitation of our elders, who have placed their trust and finances in the hands of a loved one.

Should you believe that a loved on has been abused by one possessiong a Power of Attorney, please contact Steven Peck’s Premier Legal toll free at 1-866-999-9085 to talk to an experienced financial abuse attorney or visit us on line at www.premierlegal.org.

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.