Notwithstanding § 59-7-2, a principal may designate another as the principal’s attorney-in-fact or agent pursuant to the provisions of § 59-12-3.

A principal may designate any other person as the principal’s attorney-in-fact or agent for health care decisions, and the attorney-in-fact shall have the authority to make any health care decision at any time during which the principal lacks capacity. Any durable power of attorney for health care shall be signed by the principal or in the principal’s conscious presence by another individual directed by the principal to sign the principal’s name on the power of attorney. The signature shall be witnessed by two other adult individuals or by a notary public. A power of attorney granted pursuant to this section may authorize the attorney-in-fact to consent to, to reject, or to withdraw consent for health care, including any care, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat a person’s physical or mental condition.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 59-7-2.1

  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC

Source: SL 1977, ch 418, § 1; SL 1990, ch 412, § 1; SL 2012, ch 149, § 61; SL 2016, ch 120, § 34; SL 2020, ch 214, § 44.

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