Arvia Lawyers can help you with the four types of Powers of Attorney used in Victoria:
- General Power of Attorney which appoints someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf for a specific period of time, for example, if you are overseas and need someone to manage your financial affairs while you are away.
- Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial), which is used to appoint someone to make legal and financial decisions for you in the event that you lose the capacity to make those decisions yourself.
- Enduring Power of Attorney (Medical Treatment), which is used to appoint someone to make medical treatment decisions on your behalf if you cannot make them yourself.
- Enduring Power of Guardianship, which is used to appoint someone to make personal and lifestyle decisions on your behalf such as your living arrangements if you have lost the ability to make decisions for yourself.
Making a Power of Attorney or Guardianship
Anyone over the age of 18 who has the capacity to understand the nature and consequences of the document, who makes the decisions in the document of their own free will and who can communicate clearly what those decisions are. These documents safeguard your interests in the event of something unforeseen – an accident or illness that deprives you of your capacity to make decisions for yourself. It is better to be prepared and reassured in knowing that the person you choose will be making important decisions about your money, your living arrangements and your health.
A Power of Attorney (Financial) begins when you nominate that it should. Powers of Attorney (Medical Treatment) and Powers of Attorney (Guardianship) only commence when you are unable to make your own decisions.
Selecting an Attorney or Guardian
You need to appoint someone your trust to make the right decisions. With a General Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial) you can appoint more than one person to make the decisions jointly. They are legally responsible to you and must act in your best interests. While you have mental capacity they must obey your instructions. They cannot give gifts to themselves or to anyone else unless you specifically authorise this and they must keep their finances and money separate from yours, keeping accurate records of all of their dealings with your money.
It is really important that you discuss these documents with a lawyer who can give you professional advice about your particular circumstances. It is also vital that you discuss your wishes with your family to avoid unnecessary conflict and stress.
Executing Documents
These documents need to be witnessed by a person with statutory authority such as a solicitor or Notary Public.
Changing your wishes at a later time
You are able to revoke or change these documents whilst you still have the decision making capacity to do so. This has to be done in a legally binding way, so please seek legal advice.
Contact us to find out more or to arrange an appointment.