72-31-338. Construction of authority generally. Except as otherwise provided in the power of attorney, by executing a power of attorney that incorporates a subject described in 72-31-339 through 72-31-352 or that grants to an agent authority to do all acts that a principal could do pursuant to 72-31-336(3), a principal authorizes the agent, with respect to that subject, to:

(1) demand, receive, and obtain, by litigation or otherwise, money or another thing of value to which the principal is, may become, or claims to be entitled and conserve, invest, disburse, or use anything so received for the purposes intended;

(2) contract in any manner with any person, on terms agreeable to the agent, to accomplish a purpose of a transaction and perform, rescind, cancel, terminate, reform, restate, release, or modify the contract or another contract made by or on behalf of the principal;

(3) execute, acknowledge, seal, file, and record any instrument or communication the agent considers desirable to accomplish a purpose of a transaction, including creating at any time a schedule listing some or all of the principal's property and attaching it to the power of attorney;

(4) initiate, participate in, submit to alternative dispute resolution, settle, oppose, or propose or accept a compromise with respect to a claim existing in favor of or against the principal or intervene in litigation relating to the claim;

(5) seek on the principal's behalf the assistance of a court or other governmental agency to carry out an act authorized by the power of attorney;

(6) engage, compensate, and discharge an attorney, accountant, discretionary investment manager, expert witness, or other advisor;

(7) prepare, execute, and file a record, report, or other document to safeguard or promote the principal's interest under a statute or regulation;

(8) communicate with any representative or employee of a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality on behalf of the principal;

(9) access communications intended for and communicate on behalf of the principal, whether by mail, electronic transmission, telephone, or other means; and

(10) do any other lawful act with respect to the subject and all property related to the subject.

History: En. Sec. 115, Ch. 494, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 109, L. 2011; Sec. 72-31-223, MCA 2009; redes. 72-31-338 by Code Commissioner, 2011.