What is agency law? In short, it is the law that deals with agents. What agents? Nearly any agent you can think of, such as: search agents, travel agents, insurance agents, commercial agents, literary agents, sports agents, patent agents, real estate agents, etc., and our favorite Hollywood special agents, like Bond, James Bond. But what exactly does it mean to be an "agent" in the eyes of the law? Who do agents work for? What are agents’ responsibilities? Are agencies also agents? If you step back for a second, have you ever played the role of an "agent?" Maybe you have even held agency status like James Bond…

In this article we’ll explore the above questions and basic tenants of agency law, which applies to all types of agent and agency law relationships. We’ll also take a look at what it means to be an "agent," how agency authority is formed, how an agency relationship is created and ended, the different types of agents, examples of agency situations, and how you may even be an agent as you’re reading this article.

Next, we’ll explore how to create an "agent."