A
n elderly neighbour you
don’t know terribly well
has asked if you would
act as her Enduring Power of
Attorney. You feel sorry for her
because she doesn’t appear to
have contact with her family.
Should you say “yes”?
It is good that your neighbour
is seeking this, but be aware
that the job can be a very
onerous one.
An Enduring Power
of Attorney (EPA) is a legal
arrangement giving you the
power to make decisions forsomeone who can no longer
decide for themselves. This
is usually because of mental
impairment due to old age or
ill health. It is set up while the
person is still in sound mind.
There are two types: property;
and personal care and welfare.
For a property
EPA, you may need
to pay bills, take care
of bank accounts
and shares, keep
accounts, and sell or
maintain property.
For a personal care
EPA, you may have to
decide on medical
care, accommodation
and the person’s
general wellbeing.
This can run you
into a great deal of
unpaid work. This is
why the job is usually
done by direct family.
Don’t say “yes”
just to be nice. Read
more about it and
maybe take advice
from a lawyer.56 New Zealand Woman’s Weekly
CONTENTS
may offend
Kevin Milne
CONSUMERConsumer
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Y
ou have just bought an
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