A general power of attorney is a legal document that allows you (the principal) to nominate one or more persons (referred to as attorneys) to act on your behalf. A general power of attorney gives the attorney the authority, if you choose, to manage your legal and financial affairs, including buying and selling real estate, shares and other assets for you, operating your bank accounts, and spending money on your behalf.
A general power of attorney ceases if you lose your mental capacity after its execution. If you wish the power of attorney to continue if you lose your mental capacity, use the enduring power of attorney prescribed form. An attorney under a general power of attorney cannot make decisions about your lifestyle or health. These decisions can only be made by a guardian, whether an enduring guardian appointed by you or a guardian appointed by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Supreme Court.
You may set whatever conditions and limitations on your attorney that you choose. An attorney must always act in your best interest. If your attorney does not follow your directions or does not act in your best interest, you should revoke the power of attorney. You or someone on your behalf should inform the attorney of the revocation, preferably in writing. The attorney must then immediately cease to act as your attorney. If anyone else, such as a bank, has been advised about the power of attorney, that person or entity should also be informed of the revocation.
The Important information set out at the end of this form includes notes to assist in completing this form and more fully explains the role and responsibilities of an attorney.
1 Appointment of attorney by the principal
Principal—The person who appoints the attorney is known as the principal.
Attorney—The person you nominate to look after your financial affairs is known as the attorney. You can appoint more than one attorney.
I, [insert full name and address of principal], appoint [insert full name and address of first appointed attorney] and also appoint [insert full name and address of each additional attorney] to be my attorneys. [If you appoint more than one attorney, please insert the full name and address of every attorney and complete the relevant section below]
Only complete this section if more than one attorney is appointed.
Schedule Schedule 2 - Powers of Attorney Regulation 2024 - Prescribed forms for power of attorney | Zoe
My attorneys are appointed: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. I want the appointment to be terminated if one of the attorneys dies, resigns or otherwise vacates office. |
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. I do not want the appointment to be terminated if one of the attorneys dies, resigns or otherwise vacates office. |
| □ | Jointly and severally [Your attorneys may act individually or can act together with the other attorneys if they choose]. |
If no option is selected or the option chosen is unclear or inconsistent, I intend my attorneys to act jointly and severally.
Nomination of substitute attorney (optional)
If your attorney vacates office, you have the option to nominate someone else to take their place.
If my attorney vacates office, I appoint [insert full name and address of substitute attorney] to be my substitute attorney. [If you appoint more than one substitute attorney, please insert the full name and address of every attorney and complete the relevant section below]
Only complete this section if more than one attorney is appointed.
My attorneys are appointed: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. |
| □ | Jointly and severally [Your attorneys may act individually or can act together with the other attorneys if they choose]. |
If no option is selected or the option chosen is unclear or inconsistent, I intend my attorneys to act jointly and severally.
2 Powers
My attorney may exercise the authority conferred by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, Part 2 to do anything on my behalf I may lawfully authorise an attorney to do.
Additional powers (optional)
You may also choose to allow your attorney to use your money and assets to pay for those things listed below. [Tick any one or more options that apply and cross out the rest]
| □ | I authorise my attorney to give reasonable gifts as provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 11(2). |
| □ | I authorise my attorney to confer benefits on the attorney to meet their reasonable living and medical expenses as provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 12(2). |
| □ | I authorise my attorney to confer benefits on the following persons [insert full name and address of each person] to meet their reasonable living and medical expenses as provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 13(2). |
3 Conditions and limitations
I place the following conditions and/or limitations on the authority of my attorney: [Insert any conditions and limitations]
You can limit the attorney’s power to only carry out certain tasks. For example, you can specify that the attorney may only act to sell your house, or that the attorney can only act to deal with your shares. You can also place any conditions on how those tasks are to be carried out. For example, you can require that the attorney must submit accounts to a nominated accountant every year for audit. If you do not want to have any conditions or limitations placed on your attorney, write “NIL”.
4 Commencement
This power of attorney operates: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Immediately. |
| □ | On and from [Date] up to and including [Date]. |
| □ | While I am overseas. |
| □ | Other [Insert other commencement here]. |
If no option is selected or the options chosen are unclear or inconsistent, I intend that the power of attorney will operate immediately.
5 Your signature to make the appointment
Signature—
Date—
Signature of witness—
Full name of witness—
Address of witness—
6 Attorney responsibilities
Your attorney must do the following—
(a) Keep your money and property separate from the attorney’s money and property.
(b) Keep reasonable accounts and records of your money and property.
(c) Not benefit from being an attorney, unless expressly authorised by you.
(d) Always act in your best interests.
(e) Always act honestly in all matters concerning your legal and financial affairs.
Failure to do so may incur civil and/or criminal penalties.
LAND REGISTRY OFFICE USE ONLY
Important information
• A power of attorney is an important and powerful legal document. You should get legal advice before you sign it.
• It is important that you trust the person you are appointing as attorney to make financial decisions on your behalf. Your attorney must be over 18 years old and must not be bankrupt or insolvent. If your financial affairs are complicated, you should appoint an attorney who has the skills to deal with complex financial arrangements.
• A power of attorney cannot be used for health or lifestyle decisions. You should appoint an enduring guardian under the Guardianship Act 1987 if you want a particular person to make these decisions. For further information, contact the Civil and Administrative Tribunal or NSW Trustee and Guardian.
• Clause 2 of the power of attorney contains powers which will permit your attorney to use your money and assets for the attorney or anyone else as provided. You should only tick a box in clause 2 if you want your attorney to have that power.
• This power of attorney is for use in New South Wales only. If you need a power of attorney for interstate or overseas, you may need to make a power of attorney under their laws. The laws of some other States and Territories in Australia may give effect to this power of attorney. However, you should not assume this will be the case. You should confirm whether the laws of the State or Territory concerned will in fact recognise this power of attorney.
• Your attorney must keep the attorney’s own money and property separate from your money and property, unless you are joint owners, or operate joint bank accounts. Your attorney should keep reasonable accounts and records about your money and property. The cost of providing and maintaining these records by the attorney may be recoverable from you.
• If your attorney is signing certain documents that affect real estate, the power of attorney must be registered at the NSW land registry, operated by NSW Land Registry Services (NSW LRS). Please contact NSW LRS on 1300 396 076 (regional) or 02 8776 3575 for more information about registering powers of attorney.
• An attorney must always act in your best interest. If your attorney does not follow your directions or does not act in your best interest, you should consider revoking the power of attorney. If you revoke the power of attorney you should notify the attorney, preferably in writing, that they are no longer your attorney. The attorney must stop acting immediately once they have knowledge of the revocation.
• This power of attorney does not automatically revoke earlier powers of attorney made by you. If you have made an earlier power of attorney that you do not want to continue, you must revoke the earlier power of attorney. It is advisable that you notify the attorney, preferably in writing, of the revocation, if you have not already done so. You should also give notice of the revocation to anyone who is aware of the earlier power of attorney, such as a bank.
Notes for completion
Joint attorneys
If you appoint more than one attorney, you should indicate whether the attorneys are to act jointly or jointly and severally. Attorneys who are appointed jointly are only able to act and make decisions together.
Attorneys who are appointed jointly and severally (ie together or separately) are able to act and make decisions independently of each other. However, if you appoint 3 or more attorneys, you can specify that a simple majority must agree before they can act.
Substitute attorneys
If you appoint a substitute attorney, the substitute attorney will only have authority to act as your attorney if the first appointed attorney dies, resigns or otherwise vacates their position.
You can specify for whom the substitute is to act (eg if you appoint A and B as attorneys and X and Y as substitutes, you can specify that X takes A’s place if A vacates office).
Attorney vacates office
The Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 5 states that there is a vacancy in the office of attorney if the attorney dies, resigns, becomes bankrupt, loses mental capacity or the authority to act is revoked.
If you have appointed a substitute attorney, it may be helpful that some sort of documentation evidencing the vacation of the original attorney is attached to this power of attorney when that vacancy happens. This will assist to satisfy a third party that the substitute attorney is entitled to act for you.
Further information
For information on powers of attorney, the attorney’s duties and registration, contact the Office of the Registrar General, the NSW Trustee and Guardian, a solicitor or a trustee company.
The NSW Trustee and Guardian website (www.tag.nsw.gov.au) provides up-to-date information and resources about powers of attorney, enduring guardianship, wills and advanced care planning.
Form 2 Enduring power of attorney
Background information
An enduring power of attorney is a legal document that allows you (the principal) to nominate one or more persons (referred to as attorneys) to act on your behalf. An enduring power of attorney gives the attorney the authority to manage your legal and financial affairs, including buying and selling real estate, shares and other assets, operating your bank accounts and spending money on your behalf.
The attorney’s power continues even if for any reason you lose your mental capacity to manage your own affairs. Once you lose your mental capacity you cannot revoke this power of attorney. If you want the power of attorney to cease if you lose your mental capacity, use the general power of attorney form. An attorney under an enduring power of attorney cannot make decisions about your lifestyle or health. These decisions can only be made by a guardian (whether an enduring guardian appointed by you or a guardian appointed by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Supreme Court).
The prescribed witness certificate in clause 6 of this form must be completed. Before acting as your attorney, the attorney, including any substitute attorney, must sign the acceptance in clause 7 of this form.
Please read the Important information set out at the end of this document. It includes notes to assist in completing this document and more fully explains the role and responsibilities of an attorney.
1 Appointment of attorney by the principal
Principal—The person who appoints the attorney is known as the principal.
Attorney—The person you nominate to look after your financial affairs is known as the attorney. You can appoint more than one attorney.
I, [insert full name and address of principal], appoint [insert full name and address of first appointed attorney] and also appoint [insert full name and address of each additional attorney] to be my attorneys. [If you appoint more than one attorney, please insert the full name and address of every attorney and complete the relevant section below]
Only complete this section if more than one attorney is appointed.
My attorneys are appointed: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. I want the appointment to be terminated if one of the attorneys dies, resigns or otherwise vacates office. |
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. I do not want the appointment to be terminated if one of the attorneys dies, resigns or otherwise vacates office. |
| □ | Jointly and severally [Your attorneys may act individually or can act together with the other attorneys if they choose]. |
If no option is selected or the option chosen is unclear or inconsistent, I intend my attorneys to act jointly and severally.
Nomination of substitute attorney (optional)
If your attorney vacates office, you have the option to nominate someone else to take their place.
If my attorney vacates office, I appoint [insert full name and address of substitute attorney] to be my substitute attorney. [If you appoint more than one substitute attorney, please insert the full name and address of every attorney and complete the relevant section below]
Only complete this section if more than one attorney is appointed.
My attorneys are appointed: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Jointly [Your attorneys must all act together]. |
| □ | Jointly and severally [Your attorneys may act individually or can act together with the other attorneys if they choose]. |
If no option is selected or the option chosen is unclear or inconsistent, I intend my attorneys to act jointly and severally.
2 Powers
My attorney may exercise the authority conferred by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, Part 2 to do anything on my behalf I may lawfully authorise an attorney to do.
I give this power of attorney with the intention that it will continue to be effective if I lack capacity through loss of mental capacity after its execution.
Additional powers (optional)
You may also choose to allow your attorney to use your money and assets to pay for those things listed below. [Tick any one or more options that apply and cross out the rest]
| □ | I authorise my attorney to give reasonable gifts as provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 11(2). |
| □ | I authorise my attorney to confer benefits on the attorney to meet their reasonable living and medical expenses as provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 12(2). |
| □ | I authorise my attorney to confer benefits on the following persons [insert full name and address of each person] to meet their reasonable living and medical expenses as provided by of the Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 13(2). |
3 Conditions and limitations
I place the following conditions and/or limitations on the authority of my attorney: [Insert any conditions and limitations]
You can limit the attorney’s power to only carry out certain tasks. For example, you can specify that the attorney may only act to sell your house, or that the attorney can only act to deal with your shares. You can also place any conditions on how those tasks are to be carried out. For example, you can require that the attorney must submit accounts to a nominated accountant every year for audit. If you do not want to have any conditions or limitations placed on your attorney, write “NIL”.
4 Commencement
This power of attorney operates: [Tick one option only]
| □ | Once my attorney has accepted their appointment by signing this document. |
| □ | Once a medical practitioner considers that I am unable to manage my affairs (and provides a document to that effect). |
| □ | Once my attorney considers that I need assistance managing my affairs. |
| □ | Other [Insert other commencement here]. |
If no option is selected or the options chosen are unclear or inconsistent, I intend that the power of attorney will operate once my attorney has accepted their appointment by signing this document.
5 Your signature to make the appointment
Signature—
Date—
Signature of prescribed witness—
Full name of prescribed witness—
Address of prescribed witness—
I [insert full name and address of prescribed witness] certify the following—
(a) I explained the effect of this power of attorney to the principal before it was signed.
(b) The principal appeared to understand the effect of this power of attorney.
(c) I am a prescribed witness.
(d) I am not an attorney under this power of attorney.
(e) I have witnessed the signature of this power of attorney by the principal.
Signature—
Date—
[Tick the appropriate category]
| □ | Australian legal practitioner |
| □ | Registrar of the Local Court |
| □ | Licensed Conveyancer who has successfully completed a course of study approved by the Minister |
| □ | NSW Trustee and Guardian employee who has successfully completed a course of study approved by the Minister |
| □ | A trustee company employee who has successfully completed a course of study approved by the Minister |
| □ | Legal Practitioner qualified in a country other than Australia who is instructed and employed independently of any legal practitioner appointed as an attorney under this power of attorney |
7 Acceptance by attorney
(a) I accept that I must always act in the principal’s best interests.
(b) I accept that as attorney I must keep my own money and property separate from the principal’s money and property.
(c) I accept that I should keep reasonable accounts and records of the principal’s money and property.
(d) I accept that, unless expressly authorised, I cannot gain a benefit from being an attorney.
(e) I accept that I must act honestly in all matters concerning the principal’s legal and financial affairs.
Failure to do any of the above may incur civil and/or criminal penalties.
Signature—
Name—
Date—
and
Signature—
Name—
Date—
LAND REGISTRY OFFICE USE ONLY
Important information
• A power of attorney is an important and powerful legal document. You should get legal advice before you sign it.
• It is important that you trust the person you are appointing as attorney to make financial decisions on your behalf. Your attorney must be over 18 years old and must not be bankrupt or insolvent. If your financial affairs are complicated, you should appoint an attorney who has the skills to deal with complex financial arrangements.
• A power of attorney cannot be used for health or lifestyle decisions. You should appoint an enduring guardian under the Guardianship Act 1987 if you want a particular person to make these decisions. For further information, contact the Civil and Administrative Tribunal or NSW Trustee and Guardian.
• Clause 2 of the power of attorney contains powers which will permit your attorney to use your money and assets for the attorney or anyone else as provided. You should only tick a box in clause 2 if you want your attorney to have that power.
• This power of attorney is for use in New South Wales only. If you need a power of attorney for interstate or overseas, you may need to make a power of attorney under their laws. The laws of some other States and Territories in Australia may give effect to this power of attorney. However, you should not assume this will be the case. You should confirm whether the laws of the State or Territory concerned will in fact recognise this power of attorney.
• Your attorney must keep the attorney’s own money and property separate from your money and property, unless you are joint owners, or operate joint bank accounts. Your attorney should keep reasonable accounts and records about your money and property. The cost of providing and maintaining these records by the attorney may be recoverable from you.
• If your attorney is signing certain documents that affect real estate, the power of attorney must be registered at the NSW land registry, operated by NSW Land Registry Services (NSW LRS). Please contact NSW LRS on 1300 396 076 (regional) or 02 8776 3575 for more information about registering powers of attorney.
• An attorney must always act in your best interest. If your attorney does not follow your directions or does not act in your best interest, you should consider revoking the power of attorney. You will only be able to do so while you retain your mental capacity. If you revoke the power of attorney you should notify the attorney, preferably in writing, that they are no longer your attorney. The attorney must stop acting immediately once they have knowledge of the revocation.
• This power of attorney does not automatically revoke earlier powers of attorney made by you. If you have made an earlier power of attorney that you do not want to continue, you must revoke the earlier power of attorney. It is advisable that you notify the attorney, preferably in writing, of the revocation, if you have not already done so. You should also give notice of the revocation to anyone who is aware of the earlier power of attorney, such as a bank.
Notes for completion
Joint attorneys
If you appoint more than one attorney, you should indicate whether the attorneys are to act jointly or jointly and severally. Attorneys who are appointed jointly are only able to act and make decisions together.
Attorneys who are appointed jointly and severally (ie together or separately) are able to act and make decisions independently of each other. However, if you appoint 3 or more attorneys, you can specify that a simple majority must agree before they can act.
Substitute attorneys
If you appoint a substitute attorney, the substitute attorney will only have authority to act as your attorney if the first appointed attorney dies, resigns or vacates their position.
You can specify for whom the substitute is to act (eg if you appoint A and B as attorneys and X and Y as substitutes, you can specify that X takes A’s place if A vacates office).
Attorney vacates office
The Powers of Attorney Act 2003, section 5 states that there is a vacancy in the office of attorney if the attorney dies, resigns, becomes bankrupt, loses mental capacity or the authority to act is revoked.
If you have appointed a substitute attorney, it may be helpful that some sort of documentation evidencing the vacation of the original attorney is attached to this power of attorney when that vacancy happens. This will assist to satisfy a third party that the substitute attorney is entitled to act for you.
Further information
For information on powers of attorney, the attorney’s duties and registration, contact the Office of the Registrar General, the NSW Trustee and Guardian, a solicitor or a trustee company.
The NSW Trustee and Guardian website (www.tag.nsw.gov.au) provides up-to-date information and resources about powers of attorney, enduring guardianship, wills and advanced care planning.