Types of Principal in an Agency Relationship - Explained
Disclosed, Undisclosed, and Partially Disclosed Agents
Written by Jason Gordon
Updated at September 24th, 2021
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Table of Contents
What are the types of principal?What is a Disclosed Principal?What is a Partially-disclosed Principal?What is an Undisclosed Principal?Discussion QuestionPractice QuestionAcademic ResearchWhat are the types of principal?
Principals are categorized based upon whether their identity is disclosed to third parties with whom the agent interacts on their behalf. A principal can be classified as Disclosed, Partially-disclosed, or Undisclosed. These categorizations of principal are important in determining the rights and duties of the principal, agent, and third party.
Next Article: Methods of Forming a Principal-Agent Relationship Back to: AGENCY LAW
What is a Disclosed Principal?
A disclosed principal's identity is known to third parties dealing with the agent.
What is a Partially-disclosed Principal?
A partially-disclosed principal is known by third-parties to exist, but her exact identity is unknown. This type of relationship exists when there is some benefit to the principal to remain anonymous to third parties interacting with the agent.
What is an Undisclosed Principal?
The existence of an undisclosed principal is unknown to a third party. The third party believes that she is interacting only with the agent.
Related Topics
Discussion Question
How do you feel about the ability of an agent to act on behalf of an undisclosed and partially-disclosed principal? Is this fair to a third party? Why or why not?
Practice Question
Winston is a special agent of ABC Corp hired to negotiate the purchase of intellectual property. He seeks to purchase a premium domain name from Alice. Alice is unaware that Winston wants to buy the domain name for some third party, but does not know that he works for ABC. What type of agent is Winston? How would it affect Winston's status if Alice found out that he works for ABC? What if she did not know he was buying the domain name for a principal?
- Winston's relationship with Alice is that of a partially-disclosed agent. As such, he has the authority to bind the principal - ABC. If Alice were aware of Winston's status as an agent of ABC, he would be a disclosed agent. If Alice thought Winston was buying the domain for himself, he would be an undisclosed agent.