Can I Open and Manage an Account for Someone Else?

Yes. If the person with the qualifying medical condition (the account owner) cannot or does not want to manage their own ABLE account, another person or organization can do it as an Authorized Legal Representative (ALR).

The ABLE account is still legally owned by the account owner at all times. An ALR is simply allowed to act on their behalf and must always act for the account owner’s benefit.

What is an ALR?

An ALR is a person or organization that is legally allowed to:

• Open the ABLE account for the account owner
• Manage the account and all account funds

The ALR must:

• Act only in the account owner’s best interest
• Select investments and manage contributions and withdrawals
• Keep contact information, bank accounts, and settings up-to-date
• Keep information up to date and protect the account from misuse

Federal ABLE regulations set a hierarchy list for who can be an ALR. In the order of priority, this includes:

1. Any person who was affirmatively chosen by the account owner (if the account owner is an adult and has capacity to make such a decision) 
2. Someone with Power of Attorney for the account owner
3. The account owner’s conservator or legal guardian
4. The account owner's spouse 
5. The account owner’s parent
6. The account owner’s sibling
7. The account owner’s grandparent
8. The account owner’s Representative Payee (individual or organization), as appointed by the Social Security Administration

The acting ALR must confirm there is no one higher on the hierarchy willing and able to serve as the ALR.

Individual ALRs vs. Organizational ALRs

Individual ALR

An individual ALR is a single person acting for the account owner. Some examples include:

• A parent or legal guardian
• A person with power of attorney
• A spouse, sibling, or grandparent 
• An individual Representative Payee

The individual ALR logs in with their own credentials and can manage day‑to‑day activity on the account.

Organizational ALR

An organization can serve as ALR. Some examples include:

• A nonprofit that manages funds for people it supports
• A for-profit organization with power of attorney
• A state agency with guardianship over a minor
• An organizational Representative Payee appointed by the Social Security Administration
• Another approved service provider with guardianship or conservatorship

The organization designates authorized staff to manage the account.

Note: Whether the ALR is an individual or an organization, they do not own the money in the ABLE account and may not use it for themselves.

How Do I Become or Change an ALR?

If you are opening a new account, you can designate yourself as the account ALR during enrollment. Simply follow the instructions in the enrollment flow. Learn about how to do this in our “How to Open an ABLE Account Online” article.

If the account is already opened you can take one of two actions:

1. Add yourself as the ALR, if there is no ALR already on the account
2. Change the ALR from one person to another.
   • Please see our “How to Change or Update an Authorized Legal Representative” article for step‑by‑step instructions.