(1) A third person must accept or reject a power of attorney within a reasonable time. Four days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, are presumed to be a reasonable time for a financial institution or broker-dealer to accept or reject a power of attorney with respect to:

(a) A banking transaction, if the power of attorney expressly contains authority to conduct banking transactions pursuant to s. 709.2208(1); or

(b) An investment transaction, if the power of attorney expressly contains authority to conduct investment transactions pursuant to s. 709.2208(2).

(2) A third person may not require an additional or different form of power of attorney for authority granted in the power of attorney presented.

(3) A third person who rejects a power of attorney for any reason other than as provided in paragraph (4)(a) must state in writing the reason for the rejection.

(4) A third person is not required to accept a power of attorney if:

(a) The third person is not otherwise required to engage in a transaction with the principal in the same circumstances;

(b) The third person has knowledge of the termination or suspension of the agent’s authority or of the power of attorney before exercising the power;

(c) A timely request by the third person for an affidavit, English translation, opinion of counsel, or electronic journal or record under s. 709.2119 is refused by the agent;

(d) The power of attorney is witnessed or notarized remotely through the use of online witnesses or notarization, and either the agent is unable to produce the electronic journal or record, or the notary public did not maintain an electronic journal or record of the notarization;

(e) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the third person believes in good faith that the power is not valid or that the agent does not have authority to perform the act requested; or

(f) The third person makes, or has knowledge that another person has made, a report to the local adult protective services office stating a good faith belief that the principal may be subject to physical or financial abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment by the agent or a person acting for or with the agent.

(5) A third person who, in violation of this section, rejects a power of attorney is subject to:

(a) A court order mandating acceptance of the power of attorney; and

(b) Liability for damages, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, incurred in any action or proceeding that confirms, for the purpose tendered, the validity of the power of attorney or mandates acceptance of the power of attorney.

History.—s. 22, ch. 2011-210; s. 8, ch. 2013-90; s. 28, ch. 2019-71.