Can Multiple People Have Power of Attorney?

When one adult child lives nearby and another handles the finances, families often wonder whether both can share power of attorney over an aging parent. Washington allows it, but the way multiple agents work by default may not be what you expect, and understanding the rules before you sign can save your family real headaches.

For related help, see estate-planning help, power-of-attorney guide, and Washington probate guide.

Yes, You Can Name More Than One Agent

Washington's Power of Attorney Act, chapter 11.125 RCW, expressly permits naming more than one agent. Under RCW 11.125.110, a principal may designate two or more people to act as coagents. So if a parent wants both of their children to share authority, or wants a spouse and a trusted friend to serve together, the law makes room for that.

The critical detail is how coagents are required to act. Under RCW 11.125.110, unless the power of attorney provides otherwise, all coagents must exercise their authority jointly. In other words, the Washington default is that coagents act together, not independently. If the document is silent on the point, one coagent generally cannot make a decision or sign a document alone; the coagents have to act in concert. The statute does add one bit of flexibility even under the default: a coagent may delegate that coagent's authority to another coagent.

This default catches many families off guard. People often assume that naming two agents means either one can step in and handle things whenever convenient. In Washington, the opposite is true unless the document says so. If a parent wants either coagent to be able to act alone, the power of attorney must specifically say that the coagents may act independently or severally. That single sentence changes how the whole arrangement functions in practice.

The Pros of Naming Coagents

There are good reasons families choose coagents. The most obvious is oversight. When two people must act jointly, neither can quietly drain an account or make a self-serving decision without the other's involvement, which builds in a natural check against financial abuse. For families worried about one person having unchecked control, joint coagents provide reassurance.

Coagents can also share the workload. Managing an aging parent's finances, medical bills, insurance, and property can be a heavy job, and splitting it between two trusted people can keep any one person from being overwhelmed. And naming two agents can help keep peace in families where leaving one child in charge might create resentment or suspicion.

The Cons of Naming Coagents

The same joint-action default that provides oversight can also create paralysis. If coagents must act together and they disagree, or if one of them is traveling, ill, or simply hard to reach, routine tasks can grind to a halt. A bank may refuse to move forward until both agents have signed, and a stubborn disagreement between two siblings can stall the very decisions the document was meant to make easy. When a parent needs prompt action, a requirement that two people always agree can become an obstacle rather than a safeguard.

There is also the question of liability among coagents. Under RCW 11.125.110, a coagent who does not participate in or conceal another agent's breach of fiduciary duty is generally not liable for that other agent's actions. But the statute also imposes a duty: a coagent who has actual knowledge of a breach, or an imminent breach, by another agent must notify the principal and, if the principal is incapacitated, take reasonable action to protect the principal's best interest. A coagent who fails to do so can be held liable for the foreseeable damages that could have been avoided. So serving as a coagent is not a passive role; it carries a responsibility to speak up if the other agent goes astray.

Naming a Successor Agent Instead of, or Alongside, Coagents

For many families, a cleaner alternative to coagents is a single primary agent with a named successor. Under RCW 11.125.110, a principal may designate one or more successor agents to act if the original agent resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, is not qualified, or declines to serve. Unless the document provides otherwise, a successor agent has the same authority the original agent had, and may not act until every predecessor agent is out of the picture.

This structure avoids the joint-action gridlock while still ensuring continuity. One trusted person handles matters efficiently, and if that person can no longer serve, the named successor steps in automatically without a court proceeding or a scramble to find a replacement. Many families find that a single primary agent plus a reliable successor gives them both the efficiency and the backup they want, without the friction that joint coagents can create.

Common Questions Families Ask

People often ask whether they can get the benefits of coagents without the risk of gridlock. The answer is usually to name coagents but expressly authorize them to act independently in the document, so either one can handle matters while both still have authority. That combination preserves flexibility while keeping a second set of eyes on the arrangement.

Another common question is what happens if coagents cannot agree. Because the default requires joint action and the statute does not appoint a tiebreaker, a genuine deadlock may ultimately require going to court, which is exactly the expense and delay a power of attorney is supposed to avoid. That risk is worth weighing honestly when deciding whether joint coagents fit your family.

Families in Snohomish County also ask how to choose between siblings without causing friction. There is no one-size answer, but naming one as primary agent and the other as successor, and being open about the reasoning, often keeps the peace better than forcing two people to act jointly on every decision.

Setting Up the Right Structure for Your Family

Whether coagents, a single agent with a successor, or some combination is right for you depends on your family, your finances, and how much oversight you want built in. The Law Office of Chad Foster helps Snohomish County families design powers of attorney that actually work when the time comes, without gridlock or gaps. Reach out to talk through the structure that fits your situation.