Enduring Power of Attorney
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows the individual creating the document to appoint a person or persons to make personal, healthcare and / or financial decisions on your behalf whilst you are still alive.
An attorney can be anyone over the age of 18 years who is not a paid care giver. You can appoint more than one attorney if so desired.
What happens if I don’t have an Enduring Power of Attorney?
Without having a valid Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) in place, a friend or relative may step forward to assist in managing your affairs once you are deemed to no longer have capacity however, before they are able to make any decisions on your behalf, they would need to apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to be appointed as your Administrator (to make financial decisions) and/or your Guardian (to make personal decisions).
This process is complex and can take months, it can also cost thousands. Our lawyers cover all of these types of scenarios when meeting with you to discuss your succession planning and affairs. An EPOA is just as important as your Will!
Please contact our Wills and Estates team to help you through the process.