Both a General Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney are dictated by the Powers of Attorney Act. Both documents are important as they confer a lot of power to your attorney/s while you are alive in relation to your financial and/or personal/health matters.
What is the difference between a General Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney?
A General Power of Attorney authorises one or more person to do all things on your behalf which you lawfully allow them to do in relation to your financial matters. You are known as the Principal and the person or persons you appoint, are known as your attorney/s. Once the principal has lost capacity, so too has the attorney/s.
An Enduring Power of Attorney however allows an attorney/s to act in relation to your financial and personal/health matters.
Where a person appoints the same attorneys for their financial and personal/health matters, a Short Form Enduring Power of Attorney document is used.
Where a person appoints different attorney/s, a Long Form Enduring Power of Attorney document is used.
Unlike a General Power of Attorney, once a principal has lost capacity, the attorney/s power is not revoked.
General Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Attorney documents are important documents and you should only appoint people you trust. Your attorney/s are given a lot of power and it is essential you are sure they will not abuse that power!