When someone signs a real estate contract under a power of attorney, the review must connect the authority document to the principal, property, and transaction.
Key takeaways
- Check the power's execution, scope, effective period, and revocation status.
- Match the principal, agent, property, price, and signature capacity.
- Confirm any recording or title-company requirements before closing.
Compare authority and contract
Index the power of attorney, contract, title record, identity documents, and any acceptance or certification. Check whether the authority covers selling or buying this property and whether it permits the specific act. Note missing pages, unreadable exhibits, and conflicting dates.
Preserve the transaction record
Record who received the power, when it was reviewed, and whether title or escrow requested additional evidence. Do not assume a broad label answers a scope question. Escalate execution, capacity, revocation, and jurisdiction issues to qualified counsel.
Sources and limitations
Power-of-attorney and recording rules vary. This guide is for document organization and issue spotting, not legal advice.