<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 59-12-18 - Acceptance of and reliance upon acknowledged power of attorney.</title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2078749Normal { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2078749SENU { font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2078749CL { font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2078749StatuteNumber1 { margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.50in; text-align: justify; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2078749DefaultParagraphFont { font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2078749StatuteNumber2 { margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.50in; text-align: justify; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2078749000000 { font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2078749NoIndent { text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2078749DefaultParagraphFont-000001 { font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2078749SCL { font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=59-12-18"><span class="s2078749SENU">59-12-18</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749SENU">. </span><span class="s2078749CL">Acceptance of and reliance upon acknowledged power of attorney.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    For purposes of this section and § 52-12-19, the term, South Dakota compliant, means a power of attorney signed by the principal and substantially in the form provided in § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=59-12-41"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">59-12-41</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont"> and acknowledged before a notary public or other individual authorized to take acknowledgements.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    A person that in good faith accepts a South Dakota compliant power of attorney without actual knowledge that the signature is not genuine may rely upon the power attorney as being valid.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    A person that in good faith accepts a South Dakota compliant power of attorney without actual knowledge that the power of attorney is void, invalid, or terminated; that the purported agent's authority is void, invalid, or terminated; or that the agent is exceeding or improperly exercising the agent's authority may rely upon the power of attorney as if the power of attorney were genuine, valid, and still in effect; the agent's authority were genuine, valid, and still in effect; and the agent had not exceeded and had properly exercised the authority.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    A person that is asked to accept a South Dakota compliant power of attorney may request, and rely upon, without further investigation:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber2"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(a)    An agent's certification under penalty of perjury of any factual matter concerning the principal, agent, or power of attorney;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber2"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(b)    An English translation of the power of attorney if the power of attorney contains, in whole or in part, language other than English; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber2"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(c)    An opinion of counsel as to any matter of law concerning the power of attorney if the person making the request provides in a writing or other record the reason for the request.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(5)    An English translation or an opinion of counsel requested under this section shall be provided at the principal's expense unless the request is made more than ten business days after the power of attorney is presented for acceptance.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749StatuteNumber1"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">(6)    For purposes of this section and § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=59-12-19"><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">59-12-19</span></a><span class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont">, a person that conducts activities through employees is without actual knowledge of a fact relating to a power of attorney, a principal, or an agent if the employee conducting the transaction involving the power of attorney is without actual knowledge of the fact.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749000000"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2078749NoIndent"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2078749DefaultParagraphFont-000001">Source: </span><span class="s2078749SCL">SL 2020, ch 214, § 18.</span></p></div></body></html>