No one can predict the future.
However, if you experience an unexpected serious injury or illness, then you might be unable to make decisions temporarily or permanently.
Powers of attorney give you the ability to choose who will stand in your shoes and make decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself.
Powers of attorney in some ways are like insurance: hopefully you will never need them, but having them in place can give you some peace of mind over what might happen to you in the future.
Recent changes to Victorian laws have given us better tools to control who and how our decisions are made for us if the unexpected happens.
The new Enduring Power of Attorney combines the old enduring power of attorney (financial) and appointment of enduring guardian into one document.
This means you now use one document for your financial and personal (excluding health care) matters.
The new format gives you more control over who and how many people you can appoint, how the power comes into effect, and what limitations or conditions you might need to place on those powers.
For example, you can direct your attorney to continue your regular monetary gifts for family birthdays, or require that agreement be obtained from other family members before property can be sold.
Medical treatment decisions are now made under the Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Maker.
This new document allows you to appoint multiple alternate decision-makers, rather than two as was the case under the old power of attorney.
Along with this change came the introduction of the Advance Care Directive.
This document gives you the ability to create non-binding and binding directives about your future medical treatment.
There are significant benefits and risks with binding your health practitioners to future medical decisions.
For this reason, you should make directives only after you have talked with your health practitioners.
Find out more at Eastern Community Legal Centre’s (ECLC) free Powers of Attorney presentation hosted by Healesville Library at 10.30am on Tuesday 8 October as part of Yarra Ranges Council’s Seniors Festival.
Call 9800 6497 to book a seat.
You can also find out more from the Office of the Public Advocate’s helpline on 1300 309 337 Monday to Friday.
ECLC offers free legal assistance from its office in Healesville and at multiple locations including Ringwood Magistrates’ Court (Intervention Order Support Service) and outreach services to Yarra Junction, Monbulk and Lilydale.
Call 9762 6235 to find out how ECLC can assist you.
