Also known as: superior co-agent · subordinate co-agent · superior co-agents · subordinate co-agents · co-agents · coagent · coagents
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
Two or more agents of the same principal who occupy different levels in an internal hierarchy. The superior co-agent exercises supervisory authority over the subordinate co-agent while both report directly to the principal rather than one serving as a subagent of the other.
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Simon Stern owns Solstice Ventures and appoints Stephen Shaw as the hiring officer with authority to manage all personnel decisions. Stephen then brings in Sean Steele as his assistant to screen candidates and prepare offer letters. Both Stephen and Sean report directly to Simon on their work, and Simon retains ultimate control over final hiring choices.
Solomon Silver executes a power of attorney naming Simone Sanders as the primary manager of his business affairs and Seth Shapiro as her designated assistant for routine filings. The instrument permits Simone to supervise Seth's work on daily tasks. Both Simone and Seth answer directly to Solomon and may act independently unless the document requires joint action.
Superior and subordinate co-agents both report directly to the principal even though one supervises the other. A subagent is appointed by an agent who remains primarily responsible to the principal for the subagent's conduct.
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Yes. A principal may designate multiple coagents and specify that one exercises supervisory authority over the other while both derive authority directly from the principal under the instrument.
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