Power of attorney

This section discusses steps you can take to plan for the future while you are alive, particularly if you lose the capacity to make decisions yourself.

This area of the law is under review. In November 2015, the then Attorney General of NSW requested that the Law Reform Commission of NSW (Commission) conduct a review of the Guardianship Act 1987. The final report was tabled in NSW Parliament on 15 August 2018.

On 19 March 2019, the Attorney-General launched the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019-2023.  

Reform has largely centred on calls for the implementation of supported decision-making over the current substitute decision-making model. The end result may be that the current arrangements for the separate appointment of enduring powers of attorney and enduring guardians would be combined and replaced with a single scheme of the appointment of enduring representatives through representative agreements.

The following is the law as it exists at the date of publication. Updates will be provided as available.


A power of attorney, like a will, is a way of preparing and planning for the future.

A power of attorney is a legal document that appoints and authorises someone to act on your behalf in the areas of property and financial management. It does not authorise anyone to make other decisions, such as those relating to lifestyle, health or personal affairs; these are covered by appointing an ‘enduring guardian’ (see Enduring guardianship).

The person who makes the power of attorney is known as the principal; the person appointed to act for them is known as the ‘attorney’. Sometimes the word ‘attorney’ is used to refer to a lawyer, but in this case ‘attorney’ simply means your authorised representative, who may or may not be a lawyer. In fact, the attorney is usually a family member or close friend.

While you may be able to look after your financial affairs at present, this may change in the future.

You can appoint an attorney for:

  • a limited period, or
  • an indefinite period.

You might draw up a limited power of attorney to enable your attorney to act for you when you are overseas, or to deal with a specific situation in another state or overseas.

A power of attorney that is unlimited as to time applies until you die or revoke it.

If you want your power of attorney to still be valid even if you lose your mental capacity after you make it, you must make an enduring power of attorney. In this case, the power of attorney must be explained to you by a prescribed person such as a lawyer, and that person must sign a certificate stating that you understood the effect of giving an enduring power of attorney — that is, that the power of attorney will still be valid if you lose your mental capacity.

Appointing an attorney

Because the attorney has full authority to deal with your affairs, it is important that you appoint someone you trust and who will act responsibly. The attorney must act with good faith and tell you of any conflict of interest that may influence their ability to act responsibly and genuinely on your behalf.

Preparing a power of attorney

It is advisable to have an enduring power of attorney prepared by a lawyer, as it must be witnessed by a prescribed person, who may be a lawyer. It is also advisable to see a lawyer to make a power of attorney that puts limits or conditions on the attorney or allows the attorney to make gifts or confer benefits.

Ending a power of attorney

A power of attorney will operate until:

  • you cancel it
  • the attorney no longer wants to act
  • the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) or Supreme Court makes an order affecting the power of attorney.

It also ceases if the principal dies or loses their mental capacity (unless it is an enduring Power of Attorney). It also ceases (unless there is a substitute in the document) if the attorney dies, becomes bankrupt or loses mental capacity. If the power of attorney has been registered, a written revocation of that power should also be registered.

The importance of having an enduring power of attorney

As a power of attorney can only be made while you are of sound mind, having an enduring power of attorney is a safeguard against the possibility of not having anyone with authority to manage your property and finances if you suffer loss of mental capacity.

Having an enduring power of attorney is an important consideration for everyone, not only people who are old or with an illness that may affect mental capacity. If you have an accident that affects your mental capacity, nobody will be able to have access to your assets, such as your bank accounts or superannuation, unless you have made an enduring power of attorney. If you have not made one, your family or a close friend will have to apply to be appointed as your financial manager, either through NCAT or the Supreme Court, which may take a considerable time. It is much simpler if you have given someone an enduring power of attorney.

The Powers of Attorney Act 2003

The Powers of Attorney Act 2003 (NSW) came into effect on 16 February 2004. All powers of attorney made before that date are still valid. That Act and its regulations were amended from 13 September 2013. Any power of attorney made before that date is still valid. There are two different forms for a power of attorney — a general power of attorney which is automatically terminated if you lose mental capacity and an enduring power of attorney which will remain valid if you lose mental capacity. A general power of attorney may be useful if you are away for a short time. It does not need to be witnessed by a prescribed person.

The Act allows the person appointing an attorney (the principal) to give the attorney specific directions on how the attorney is to act on behalf of the principal. Particularly, the Act confirms that an attorney cannot use the principal’s assets for any purpose other than the benefit of the principal, unless the instrument expressly authorises it.

Acceptance of enduring power of attorney

Before an attorney can use an enduring power of attorney, it must be ‘accepted’ by the attorney. That means that the attorney must sign the power of attorney. The attorney’s signature does not have to be witnessed, and the attorney does not have to sign at the same time as the principal.

Information for principals and attorneys

Prescribed forms for powers of attorney are found in Schedule 2, Powers of Attorney Regulation 2016. The form includes important information for principals and attorneys, such as that the attorney must always act in the best interests of the principal. There are two separate forms: Form 1 is a general power of attorney; Form 2 is an enduring power of attorney. 

Registering a power of attorney

A power of attorney need only be registered at NSW Land Registry Services if it is to be used to sign a document relating to land. The current cost of registration is $165.40, inlcuding GST (until 30 June 2024).

When does a power of attorney take effect?

The principal can elect when the power of attorney comes into effect, which could be:

  • immediately
  • when the attorney accepts the appointment
  • at a particular date
  • when the principal’s attorney considers that the principal needs assistance managing their financial affairs.

Alternatively, the principal can stipulate that the power of attorney does not take effect until the principal lacks capacity.

Prescribed witnesses

If the power of attorney is to be enduring, it must be witnessed by one of the following:

  • a registrar of a local court
  • a barrister or solicitor admitted in any Australian state or territory
  • a licensed conveyancer, an employee of the NSW Trustee & Guardian or an employee of another trustee company who has completed an approved course of study
  • someone qualified as a lawyer in a country other than Australia.

Authorising an attorney to give gifts

The form allows the principal to authorise the attorney to:

  • give gifts to certain people in certain circumstances
  • confer benefits on the attorney (benefits are limited to housing, food, education, transportation, medical care and medication)
  • confer benefits on named third parties (limited to the same benefits as attorneys can confer on themselves).

If you wish your attorney to be able to give gifts or confer benefits, it is suggested that you use a lawyer to draw up your power of attorney. If you are making an enduring power of attorney, you would normally use a lawyer to witness your signature, or the registrar at the local court can be a witness.

Legislation