The person you appoint to act on your behalf is known as your Attorney - it is important to note that they do NOT require any legal qualifications. Under Victorian Law there are four types of Power of Attorney:
General Power of Attorney
This is where you appoint someone, usually for a specific period of time, to make financial or legal decisions for you. If you appoint a General Power of Attorney and then lose legal capacity at a later stage the appointment will no longer be valid and the person you have appointed will no longer be able to make decisions on your behalf.Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial)
This is where you appoint someone to make financial or legal decisions for you in the event of you losing, at some time in the future, the capacity to make those decisions yourself.Enduring Power of Attorney (Medical Treatment)
This is where you appoint someone to make medical treatment decisions for you in case, at some time on the future, you lose the capacity to make those decisions yourself.Enduring Power of Guardianship
This is where you appoint someone to make lifestyle decisions for you, such as where you'll live if, at some time in the future, you lose the capacity to decide for yourself.All text and images © www.FreeWillsOnline.com.au