What is Power of Attorney and How Does It Work?
As a citizen of Western Australia, there
are two types of Powers of Attorney which you may enter into. The two types of
powers of attorney are General Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of
Attorney. In a nutshell, the power of attorney or the POA is a legal document
that consents an individual or an organization to appoint a person to handle
your affairs if you are unavailable to perform such affairs. However, not all
powers of attorney give the same effect and controls to the attorney-in-fact.
The attorney-in-fact is the person designated to make decisions on your behalf.
The
General Power of Attorney
The general power of attorney gives your
attorney-in-fact wide-ranging powers to act on your behalf. These may include
the powers in handling business and financial transactions, getting life
insurance on your behalf, setting claims, hiring professional help, running
business interests, and making gifts on your behalf. The general power of
attorney is a valuable and effective tool if you will not be there to handle
matters personally (ie. out of the country), or when you are mentally or/and
physically incapable to make decisions and manage your affairs. Often, a
general power of attorney is included in estate planning to ensure that there
is someone to handle financial matters. For further information about the
extent of the power of the general power of attorney and how it works you may
ask a lawyer in cananing vale.
The
Enduring Power of Attorney
Enduring power of attorney is a binding and
legal document that allows another person the legal power to issue a financial
and property decisions on behalf of the other person. The enduring power of
attorney, however, does not encompass personal, treatment and lifestyle
decision. Enduring power of attorney can
granted to anyone who is of legal age (18 and above) and has a full legal
capacity.
If a person has acquired a brain injury,
dementia, cognitive impairment or if its mental capacity is in question due to
mental illness, one cannot give an enduring power of attorney. Once an enduring
power of attorney is issued the attorney can continue to act on donor’s behalf
even when then donor loses full legal. To revoke to enduring power of attorney,
the donor must have the full legal capacity to do so, and it recommended the
cancellation or revocation of the power is made in writing. If the donor loses
its full legal capacity and there is a need to revoke the enduring power of
attorney you need to apply in the State Administrative Tribunal for revocation.
For further information about enduring power of attorney may ask a lawyer in cananing vale to explain to
you salient points and how an enduring power of attorney works.
Comments
Post a Comment