J.E. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Is it possible for a nonresident unit owner to appoint someone living in the unit (a relative) to serve as the unit’s representative? This is beyond just a proxy. The relative in question would like to become a trustee but is not the owner.
Mister Condo replies:
J.E., the answer may be as specialized as your particular state. Typically, some form of power of attorney would be granted to the relative that would enable them to function as the representative of the owner of the unit. Depending on your documents, that may or may not be enough to satisfy the requirement for this person to serve as Trustee, which is typically limited to a unit owner. If you need a true legal opinion, I would suggest you consult with the association’s attorney familiar with the exact laws in your state. I am not an attorney but, in my opinion, this designee should not be able to serve as a Trustee because they don’t have the same risk/reward that a unit owner has. In other words, this designee could vote on all sorts of items from budgets to contracts that would virtually have no impact on him or her. All the best!