To whom do the fiduciary obligations of an agent apply?

Fiduciary obligations of an agent primarily apply to the person who employed the agent, often referred to as the principal. This relationship is central to agency law, where the agent has a legal and ethical duty to act in the best interest of the principal. The agent is expected to handle the principal's affairs with loyalty, care, and confidentiality, thereby safeguarding the principal's interests over their own or any third parties.

In real estate transactions, for instance, when a client employs an agent to represent them in buying or selling property, the agent commits to acting in the client’s best interests, which includes providing full disclosure and avoiding conflicts of interest. Thus, the fiduciary duty is a one-way obligation that exists directly between the agent and the person who employs them.

Other options might imply obligations to different parties involved in the transaction, but they do not reflect the direct nature of fiduciary responsibilities as defined in agency relationships.