‘Horrifying’ - the very high numbers in the 18-25 age group, when it comes to serious impairment or death from accidents.   ‘Unimaginable’ - the difficulties for parents who have to suddenly manage life with a young adult child who has lost decision making capacity or worse still manage the estate of a child lost to them.   Coping with those difficulties is made worse, sometimes beyond belief, if the child doesn’t have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) or a Will.   Parents

There are two types of power of attorney (1) “General Power of Attorney” and (2) “Enduring Power of Attorney”. Both types involve a formal agreement where one person (known as the principal) gives another person (known as the attorney) power to make decisions on behalf of the principal.   The term “person” includes both natural persons and legal entities such as corporations. A General Power of Attorney can only be used for financial matters.  It operates only while the princ

When you make a Power of Attorney it can be made in different ways. The principal rule is that when you make a Power of Attorney it must be made in the approved form pursuant to the provisions of the Powers of Attorney Act 1998. However certain Powers of Attorney will be valid as long as there is substantial compliance. It is important to recognise that with most Powers of Attorney the formal requirements to create the Power of Attorney must be strictly adhered to. This inclu