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Agency and Fiduciary Duties, 17% of the examination

Ratification

A principal's later approval of an act that was performed without authority on the principal's behalf.

Valid ratification generally requires that the actor purported to act for the principal, the principal knew the material facts, and the principal accepted the whole act. Once effective, ratification generally relates back and treats the act as authorized from the beginning. A principal cannot ratify an act that could not lawfully have been authorized or use ratification to defeat intervening third-party rights.

Primary sources

Use these authorities when a course summary, forum answer, or older flashcard conflicts with the current California rule.

Where this is tested

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