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Powers of Attorney

An Enduring Power of Attorney records your instructions, wishes and preferences for people to follow if you lose capacity. Find out more about safeguarding your future with this important document.

Last updated: 10 March 2024

Powers of Attorney articles

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Being an attorney

An attorney has both the duty and the privilege of enabling another person to live the life they wanted to lead by understanding and enacting their wishes and preferences.

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Choosing an attorney

The person you appoint as your attorney in your enduring power of attorney may need to make important financial decisions on your behalf, so you should choose someone you really trust.

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Cross-border issues

This section highlights a range of cross-border issues resulting from the fact that each of Australia’s states and territories has its own version of an enduring power of attorney (EPOA) with varying names, powers and processes.

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Having ‘capacity’

‘Capacity’ is a term often used when talking about a person’s ability to make decisions for themselves and understand the consequences of those decisions.

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Misuse and abuse

Enduring Powers of Attorney are sometimes misused, and if this happened your rights and control could be at risk. Find out how you can better protect yourself.

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LGBTQIA+ issues

It is critical that LGBTQIA+ people appoint an attorney who will respect their sexuality and/or gender identity when making any future decisions for them.

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Your rights

Everyone has recognised rights that don’t expire as you age, regardless if you live alone or with others, have capacity or have lost it, receive aged care or manage independently, you still have rights.

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FAQs

Even if you have an idea of what enduring powers of attorney are and how they can help you, you may still have questions to ask or things you’re not sure about.

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Helpful terms

The following are terms that you’ll find as you read information about powers of attorney. Some terms are the same across different jurisdictions, but some vary.

Powers of Attorney resources

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