Opinion ID: 2630309
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ida's Will Is Irrelevant to the Grant of Authority in the Power of Attorney

Text: ¶22 Ida's will does not limit the authority granted by the power of attorney because it does not control the disposition of her assets during her lifetime. While they were signed on the same day, the power of attorney and will are two separate instruments that control the disposition of Ida's personal property during separate and distinct periods of time. The power of attorney controlled while Ida was alive; the will controlled upon her death. A `will' is the legal declaration of a person's intentions, which he or she wills to be performed after his or her death. It is an instrument by which a testator makes a disposition of real and personal property, to take effect after his or her death. [14] ¶23 Ida was still alive when Ray gifted her personal property. Because the power of attorney controlled disposition of Ida's personal property while she was alive, his authority to do so was derived from that instrument and not limited by the will. The power of attorney, which granted Ray authority to gift Ida's property, did not reference the will. It did not purport to limit the authority to gift by referencing the will. Therefore, the identification for disposition of the same property in the will does not limit the grant of authority in the power of attorney; it is irrelevant in this case. The district court correctly concluded that there was no genuine issue of material fact as to Ray's authority to gift Ida's personal property.