{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2601.20","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 21-2601.20","heading":"Liability for refusal to accept acknowledged power of attorney.","body":"(a)\nExcept as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section:\n(1)\nA person shall either accept an acknowledged power of attorney or request a certification, translation, or opinion of counsel under § 21-2601.19(d) no later than 7 business days after presentation of the power of attorney for acceptance;\n(2)\nIf a person requests a certification, translation, or opinion of counsel under § 21-2601.19(d), the person shall accept the power of attorney no later than 5 business days after receipt of the certification, translation, or opinion of counsel under § 21-2601.19(d); and\n(3)\nA person may not require an additional or different form of power of attorney for authority granted in the power of attorney presented.\n\n(b)\nA person is not required to accept an acknowledged power of attorney if:\n(1)\nThe person is not otherwise required to engage in a transaction with the principal in the same circumstances;\n(2)\nEngaging in a transaction with the agent or the principal in the same circumstances would be inconsistent with federal law;\n(3)\nThe person has actual knowledge of the termination of the agent's authority or of the power of attorney before exercise of the power;\n(4)\nA request for certification, translation, or opinion of counsel under § 21-2601.19(d) is refused;\n(5)\nThe person in good faith believes that the power is not valid or that the agent does not have the authority to perform the act requested, whether or not a certification, translation, or opinion of counsel has been requested or provided under § 21-2601.19(d);\n(6)\nThe person makes, or has actual knowledge that another person has made, a report to the Adult Protective Services Division of the Department of Human Services or the Department of Aging and Community Living 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; or\n(7)\nThe person has actual knowledge that the agent has been charged with an intrafamily offense committed against the principal or if the agent has had a protection order or neglect petition entered against them at the request of or on behalf of the principal.\n\n(c)\nA person that refuses in violation of this section to accept an acknowledged power of attorney is subject to:\n(1)\nA court order mandating acceptance of the power of attorney; and\n(2)\nLiability for reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in any action or proceeding that confirms the validity of the power of attorney or mandates acceptance of the power of attorney.","path":["Title 21. Fiduciary Relations and Persons with Mental Illness. [Enacted title]","Chapter 26. Uniform Power of Attorney Act.","Subchapter I. General Provisions."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/21-2601.20","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"701770aeeffe4baeba8b23c1122b57429238801246831065217841218dc56fc6","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2601.19","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2601.21"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}