Powers of Attorney
Enduring Powers of Attorney
Enduring Powers of Attorney are legal documents that appoint a trusted person (referred to as an ‘attorney’) to make important decisions on your behalf, if a time comes when you no longer can, or choose not to, make those decisions.
And if something comes up that requires an attorney, but you have not appointed one, the relevant state / territory tribunal or guardianship board may appoint one for you.
An attorney’s responsibility is to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf, while a medical attorney or guardian has the responsibility of making health and lifestyle decisions if you do not have capacity to make these decisions yourself.
It’s a big responsibility – by appointing someone you trust under an Enduring Power of Attorney, you are putting your future care in their hands.
There are various types of Powers of Attorney that may be relevant for you – and they vary between states and territories.
Why appoint Us?
Many people prefer to appoint a trustee company to manage their financial and legal affairs. This approach provides peace of mind and avoids putting the burden of responsibility on a friend or relative, particularly when facing complex personal affairs. Having a trustee company act as your enduring attorney also removes any potential bias and ensures statutory requirements are met.
For more than 145 years, Australians have entrusted Equity Trustees to act on their behalf, in their best interest, when they no longer possess the capacity to administer their own affairs.
When appointed as your attorney, we will work closely with you as well as your family members, guardians and/or case managers to ensure we act in your best interests at all times.
Helping your loved ones
It's often the people we're closest to that notice the changes first. There's the forgetfulness, the change in hygiene or the increasingly erratic spending.
Whilst we all change as we get older, this behaviour may indicate the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
If you are concerned about a loved one's well-being, make an appointment with them to see their GP for an assessment and be informed about the choices available for financial management.