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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have a client who wants to create a financial power of attorney and a health care power of attorney, both effective immediately, with <u>10</u> (!) co-agents designated, all of whom have the authority to act independently. It seems this is legally permissible under RCW 11.125.020 (“agents” includes “co-agents”) and RCW 11.125.110 (co-agents can act independently if the power of attorney says so) for both the medical and financial powers of attorney, but I am concerned that there may be practical problems with institutions respecting it (may want 9 others to sign something anyway, confusion and delay, concern about different medical instructions from different people, etc.). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone experienced practical problems with multiple co-agents designated, all of whom can act independently? I am concerned that this is a really bad idea. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also, do people agree that WA statute allows medical powers of attorney to designate co-agents who can act independently? I’ve never had anyone want to designate co-agents for a medical power of attorney – don’t think it’s a good idea – and it appears to be legally permissible, but I’d appreciate your thoughts on that too. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you all for your time! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Mimi M. Wagner <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Attorney at Law<br><a href="mailto:mimi@sanjuanlaw.com"><span style='color:blue'>mimi@sanjuanlaw.com</span></a><br>Phone (360) 378-6234<br>Fax (360) 378-6244<br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.sanjuanlaw.com/"><span lang=EN style='color:blue'>www.sanjuanlaw.com</span></a></span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>This email is sent by a law office and contains information that may be privileged and confidential, or protected by the work product doctrine. </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt'>If you believe that it has been sent to you in error, do not read it. Please notify the sender that you have received the message in error, and then delete it. To comply with IRS rules, we must tell you that if this message contains advice relating to federal taxes, that advice was not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for avoiding penalties that may be imposed under federal tax law. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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