Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney is the legal power to make decisions on someone else’s behalf.
Why give someone Enduring Power of Attorney?
There are some circumstances in which you may be unable to make decision about matters that concern you. For example, you may be overseas, or you may be too ill.
If you give to someone general power of attorney, for instance to sign documents for you in your absence, that power will come to an immediate end if for some reason you lose your capacity to make decision. This could be very awkward if your attorney is in the process of conducting business affairs for you.
Giving someone enduring power means that he/she is able to continue to act for you if you lose capacity to act for yourself.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions.
- What types of decisions can an attorney make?
- Can I limit my attorney's power?
- Can I appoint more than one attorney?
- Whom should I appoint as my attorney?
- Should I pay my attorney?
- When does the attorney's power begin?
- How long does the power continue?
- How can I be sure that my attorney will act in my interests?
- Can I change or revoke this Power of Attorney?
- Is there anything else that will revoke this Power of Attorney?
- Who is involved in completing a Power of Attorney?
- Where can I go for advice?
- What happens to my Power of Attorney when it is completed?
- How do I register the document?
You may give your attorney power to make decisions about:
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Personal, health matters;
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Financial matters.
Example of personal/health matters are decisions about where and with whom you live, whether you work or undertake education or training, whether you apply for a licence or permit, and day-to-day issues like diet and dress, and whether to consent, refuse to consent or withdraw consent to particular types of health care for you (such as an operation).
An example of a financial matter is deciding how your income should be invested.
Note: You cannot give your attorney power to make decisions about:
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Special personal matter, such as a decision about your will, appointing someone as your attorney, voting at elections, or consenting to adopt or marriage;
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Special health matters, such as donation of body tissue, sterilisation, pregnancy termination, research or experimental health care, or certain psychiatric or other health care as specified in the regulations.
Your attorney can consent to the withdrawing or withholding of life-sustaining medical treatment if, for instance, you become terminal ill or go into a state of permanent or persistent unconsciousness. You can give instructions about this type of decision if you make an Advance Health Directive. These instructions will override any decision of your attorney.
Can I limit my attorney’s power?
Yes, you can specify decisions that you do not want your attorney to make. You can also include particular instructions about what you would like your attorney to do. Your attorney must act in accordance with your instructions.
There are also limits set by legislation. For example, the Trust Act names the types of investments that a trustee (in this case your attorney) is authorised to make. If you lose the capacity to make financial decisions, the only investments your attorney can make on your behalf are those that are named in the Act, unless the consent of Court is obtained.
Can I appoint more than one attorney?
Yes. Several options are provided in the Act. For example, you may appoint two or more attorneys to act jointly (together), or as a majority (simple, two-thirds etc.) or severally (any one of your attorneys can sign), or successively (power is given to a particular attorney when the power given to another attorney ends), or when the other attorney is not available to make decisions).
If you choose two or more attorneys to make decisions jointly, they have equal authority and can act only with the agreement of them all. If one attorney dies, the remaining attorney exercises the power.
It is important that your intentions be expressed clearly. There is space in this document to appoint up to three attorneys.
Whom should I appoint as my attorney?
You should appoint someone you trust. Many people choose their spouse or an adult child, but you may prefer to appoint another family member or friend with expertise in the area, or the Adult Guardian for personal matters, or the Public Trustee or a trustee company for all matters. (The adult Guardian is appointed by situate to look after the rights and interests of people with disabilities and, in certain situations, to give health-care consent).
Your attorney must be over eighteen years of age, must not be your current paid carer or your current health-care provider (such as your nurse or your doctor), and (for financial matter) must not be a bankrupt or insolvent.
Note: “Paid carer” does not mean someone receiving a carer’s pension or similar benefit, so you are free to choose someone who is receiving such a benefit for looking after you.
You do not need to pay your attorney for the power to be effective. Normally payment is not made unless a trust company is acting as attorney.
When does the attorney’s power begin?
With personal/health matters, your attorney’s power to make decision does not begin until (if ever) you are incapable of understanding the nature and foreseeing the effects of a decision, and of communicating that decision.
With financial matters, you may nominate when your attorney’s power is to begin. If you do not name a date or an occasion, it begins immediately. On the other hand, if you lose the capacity to make such decisions before the date or occasion you name, the power begins at that point.
Note: It is better not to place too many restrictions on your attorney’s power, as this may make it difficult for your attorney to make decision on your behalf.
How long does the power continue?
For personal/health matters, it continues so long as you are incapable of understanding the nature and foreseeing the effects of a decision, and of communicating that decision.
For financial matters, it continues until it is revoked.
How can I be sure that my attorney will act in my interests?
While (if ever) you are unable to oversee your attorney’s decision, the Adult Guardian and the Court have the power to protect your interests. Your attorney may be required to produce a summary of receipts and expenditure or more detailed accounts, and these may be audited. An attorney who does not adequately protect your interests can be removed or changed.
Can I change or revoke this power of attorney?
Yes, you may change or revoke it at any time, so long as you are capable of understanding what you are doing. In other words, so long as you have the capacity to make an enduring power of attorney, you also have the capacity to change or revoke it.
If you do change or revoke this power, you must inform your attorney.
Is there anything else that will end this power?
Yes, several other circumstances will bring this enduring power of attorney to an end:
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If you get married. If you marry, the power of attorney is revoked unless your new spouse is already your attorney. (If your new spouse is your attorney, the only power that is revoked is the power of any other attorney you may have).
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If you get divorced. If you divorce, the power of attorney is revoked to the extent that it was given to your former spouse.
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If you die. If you die, the enduring power of attorney is revoked in its entirety.
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If you make an inconsistent document. This power is revoked to the extent of any inconsistency with any later document you complete, such as an Advance Health Directive or another enduring power of attorney.
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If your attorney withdraws. Your attorney may withdraw by giving you a signed notice or by getting the Court’s leave to withdraw.
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If your attorney becomes your paid carer or health-care provider. If this happens, your attorney’s power is revoked.
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If your attorney becomes incapable. Your attorney’s power is revoked if he/she becomes incapable of understanding the nature and foreseeing the effects of a decision, and of communicating that decision.
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If your attorney becomes bankrupt or insolvent.
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If your attorney dies.
Who is involved in completing this document?
At least three people:
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You, as principal, complete the section of Part 1 called appointing an attorney (Clauses 1 to 8).
If you have a physical disability which prevents you from signing, you may instruct another person to sign for you, but you must give your instructions in front of the witness, and the signing must be done in your presence. This person must be eighteen years old or more, and must not be the witness of your attorney. He/she must complete the statement beside the place for his/her signature.
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The witness must sign Part 1 after clause 8 and must also complete the section of Part 2 called The Witness’s Certificate (Clause 9).
The witness must be a Justice of Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, Lawyer or Notary Public. The witness must not also sign for you and must not be your attorney, a relation of yours or the person/s you appoint as attorney. If the power including dealing with personal/health matters, the witness must not be your current paid carer or your current health-care provider.
The witness must state that you appeared to understand what you were doing. If the witness is not sure that you understand the nature and effect of the appointment, he/she should refuse to sign the document.
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The document must complete section in part 3 called Attorney’s Acceptance (Clause 10-12). Your attorney/s must be at least eighteen years old and must not be your current paid carer or health-care provider.
Littles Lawyers can advise you about the enduring power of attorney and how to complete this document.
If you are completing an enduring power of attorney for personal/health matters, it is strongly recommended that you notify your doctor.
What happens to this document when it is completed?
You should leave an original in a safe place, such as with your bank, but it is important to keep a copy to refer to.
You should also give a copy to anyone else who may need to be involved, such as:
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your attorney;
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your doctor;
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your solicitor;
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your accountant;
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your stockbroker.
You may also wish to carry a card in your purse or wallet, stating that you have made an enduring power of attorney, and giving details of this appointment.
If your attorney will be making decisions about buying or selling land, this document must be registered with the Land Titles Office.
How do I register the document?
It is not necessary to do so unless it is likely to be used in transactions relating to buying or selling land. If you register the document, you must take the original copies to the Land Titles Office and pay the fee.
If the power is revoked, you must deregister the document by lodging a revocation from with the Land Titles Office.
