Enduring Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney is a document appointing another person or persons to be an agent for the purpose of making decisions about financial matters. If the person granting the Power of Attorney has made an “Enduring” Power of Attorney, then the document continues to have legal force and effect even if that person loses their mental capacity.
Many people see the wisdom of nominating a person or persons whom they would like to look after their financial affairs in the event that they suffer from dementia, have a stroke or become mentally incompetent through trauma.
An Enduring Power of Attorney can be made so that it becomes effective only in the event of a mental incapacity; or it might be drawn so that it is effective before that time (if the donor of the power wishes it so) and continues to be effective in the event that the donor suffers from a mental incapacity.
It is important that the person who is appointed as an attorney is trustworthy and understands the nature of the powers and the duties of an attorney.
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