§26-1-2.1. Gifts by power of attorney.

(a) If any power of attorney or other writing either authorizes an attorney in fact or other agent to do, execute, or perform any act that the principal might or could do, or evidences the principal's intent to give the attorney in fact or agent full power to handle the principal's affairs or deal with the principal's property, the attorney in fact or agent shall have the power and authority to make gifts of any of the principal's property to any individuals, including the attorney in fact or agent, within the limits of the annual exclusion as provided by Section 2503(b) of Title 26 of the United States Code, and taking into account the availability of Section 2513 of Title 26 of the United States Code, as the same may from time to time be amended, or to organizations described in Sections 170(c) and 2522(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code, or corresponding future provisions of federal tax law, or both, as the attorney in fact or agent shall determine: (1) to be in the principal's best interest; (2) to be in the best interest of the principal's estate; or (3) that will reduce the estate tax payable on the principal's death; and is in accordance with the principal's personal history of making or joining in the making of lifetime gifts.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not in any way impair the right or power of any principal, by express words in the power of attorney or other writing, to further authorize, expand, or limit the authority of any attorney in fact or other agent to make gifts of the principal's property.

(c) This section is declaratory of Section 26-1-2 and shall not be construed to nullify any actions taken by any attorney in fact prior to May 6, 1994.

(Acts 1994, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 94-802, p. 108, §§1-3.)