---
title: O.C.G.A. § 10-6-21. Extent of agent’s authority; liability for exceeding, violating, or disregarding instructions.
collection: code
id: 10-6-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 10-6-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-6-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-6-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-6-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t10-(v8)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=1992b47e_0#page=901
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COMMERCE AND TRADE / AGENCY / RELATIONS BETWEEN PRINCIPAL AND AGENT
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:dissent-ing
---

# O.C.G.A. § 10-6-21. Extent of agent’s authority; liability for exceeding, violating, or disregarding instructions.

The agent shall act within the authority granted to him, reasonably interpreted; if he shall exceed or violate his instructions, he does it at his own risk, the principal having the privilege of affirming or dissenting, as his interest may dictate. In cases where the power is coupled with an interest in the agent, unreasonable instructions, detrimental to the agent’s interest, may be disregarded.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2162; Code 1868, § 2158; Code 1873, § 2184; Code 1882, § 2184; Civil Code 1895, § 3004; Civil Code 1910, § 3576; Code 1933, § 4-202.

## Cross References

Authority of attorney to act on behalf of client, § 15-19-5 et seq.

## Law Reviews

For article, “Theories of Stockbroker and Brokerage Firm Liability,” see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 12 (2004).

For annual survey of real property law, see 57 Mercer L. Rev. 331 (2005).