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.
Powers of Attorney in your state or territory
The laws, types and names of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPOA or EPA) in Australia are different depending on where you live. Learn about Enduring Powers of Attorney in your state or territory.
Powers of Attorney articles
The following featured articles are national in scope and cover a range of topics to help you prepare, plan and better resolve issues relating to Enduring Powers of Attorney.
Introduction to enduring power of attorney
Sometimes, older people may become less able to make decisions for themselves. If you lose the ability to manage your own affairs, how will they be handled?
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.
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.
Conflicts of interest
When an appointed attorney’s private interests conflict with their power of attorney obligations, elder abuse could be the outcome.
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.
Can an appointed decision maker control access?
Rights count in decisions about access and contact.
Don't have an EPOA?
It’s important to fully understand the risks of not having an Enduring Power of Attorney before deciding not to make one.
Future planning
Future planning is about taking steps now to maximise your independence and wellbeing in older age.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
NSW Land Registry Services
NSW Land Registry Services operates the NSW land titles registry for the State Government and the people of New South W...
Making Decisions About the Future
This page on the Public Advocate’s website lists a range of resources and information about the additional support they...
Making an Enduring Power of Attorney - ACT
Everyone should have an Enduring Power of Attorney — it’s the only way you can choose and control who can make decision...
7 key things to think about when taking on an Enduring Power of Attorney role video
Being someone's attorney as part of an Enduring Power of Attorney (now known as an Advance Personal Plan in the Norther...
Powers of Attorney real stories
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