2023 California Code › Probate Code - PROB › DIVISION 5 - NONPROBATE TRANSFERS › PART 2 - MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNTS › CHAPTER 2 - General Provisions › Section 5204.

5204. (a) In addition to a power of attorney otherwise authorized by law, a special power of attorney is authorized under this section to apply to one or more accounts at a financial institution or to one or more contracts with a financial institution concerning safe deposit services. For the purposes of this section, “account” includes checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, savings certificates, and any other depository relationship with the financial institution.
(b) The special power of attorney under this section shall:
(1) Be in writing.
(2) Be signed by the person or persons giving the power of attorney.
(3) Explicitly identify the attorney-in-fact or attorneys-in-fact, the financial institution, and the accounts or contracts subject to the power.
(c) The special power of attorney shall contain language in substantially the following form:
“WARNING TO PERSON EXECUTING THIS DOCUMENT: This is an important legal document. It creates a power of attorney that provides the person you designate as your attorney-in-fact with the broad powers it sets forth. You have the right to terminate this power of attorney. If there is anything about this form that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer to explain it to you.”
(d) In addition to the language required by subdivision (c), special powers of attorney that are or may be durable shall also contain substantially the following language:
“These powers of attorney shall continue even if you later become disabled or incapacitated.”
(e) The power of attorney granted under this section shall endure as between the grantor and grantee of the power until the earliest of the following occurs:
(1) Revocation by the grantor of the power.
(2) Termination of the account.
(3) Death of the grantor of the power.
(4) In the case of a nondurable power of attorney, appointment of a guardian or conservator of the estate of the grantor of the power.
(f) A financial institution may rely in good faith upon the validity of the power of attorney granted under this section and is not liable to the principal or any other person for doing so if (1) the power of attorney is on file with the financial institution and the transaction is made by the attorney-in-fact named in the power of attorney, (2) the power of attorney appears on its face to be valid, and (3) the financial institution has convincing evidence of the identity of the person signing the power of attorney as principal.
(g) For the purposes of subdivision (f), “convincing evidence” requires both of the following:
(1) Reasonable reliance on a document that satisfies the requirement of Section 4751.
(2) The absence of any information, evidence, or other circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the person signing the power of attorney as principal is not the individual he or she claims to be.
(h) The protection provided by subdivision (f) does not extend to payments made after written notice is received by the financial institution as to any of the events of termination of the power under subdivision (e) if the financial institution has had a reasonable time to act on the notice. No other notice or any other information shown to have been available to the financial institution shall affect its right to the protection provided by this subdivision.
(i) The attorney-in-fact acting under the power of attorney granted under this section shall maintain books or records to permit an accounting of the acts of the attorney-in-fact if an accounting is requested by a legal representative of the grantor of the power.
(j) The attorney-in-fact acting under a power of attorney granted under this section is liable for any disbursement other than a disbursement to or for the benefit of the grantor of the power, unless the grantor has authorized the disbursement in writing.
(k) Nothing in this section limits the use or effect of any other form of power of attorney for transactions with a financial institution. Nothing in this section creates an implication that a financial institution is liable for acting in reliance upon a power of attorney under circumstances where the requirements of subdivision (f) are not satisfied. Nothing in this section affects any immunity that may otherwise exist apart from this section.
(l) Nothing in this section prevents the attorney-in-fact from also being designated as a P.O.D. payee.
(m) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Power of Attorney Law, Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4000) shall not apply to a special power of attorney under this section. Section 4130 and Part 5 (commencing with Section 4900) of Division 4.5 shall apply to a special power of attorney under this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 300, Sec. 15. Effective August 3, 1995.)