A power of attorney is a legal document authorising a person (your appointed attorney) to act on your behalf. Depending on the type of power given, your appointed attorney may be able to make financial, legal and medical decisions for you.
A “general power of attorney” authorises a person to act on your behalf. The scope of this authority and the duration of its effect depend on the terms of the power.
An “enduring power of attorney (medical treatment)” allows you to appoint a medical ‘agent’ to make decisions about medical treatment on your behalf if you lose capacity for any reason.
An “enduring power of attorney (financial)” authorises the attorney to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. An enduring power of attorney differs from a general power of attorney in that the authority to act on your behalf does not cease if you become physically or mentally incapable of managing your own affairs.
