General Power of Attorney

This document grants temporary powers of attorney. It specifies certain powers which the Attorney is to have during a certain time period, or until the power is revoked. Do not confuse this with a Lasting Power of Attorney (which used to be called an Enduring Power of Attorney) which is used in anticipation of a person becoming unable to handle their own affairs permanently.

This document gives the attorney power either to do specific tasks that you delegate, or to manage all your affairs as they see fit. It’s simply a matter of choice – you delegate only the tasks you want the attorney to have power over.

You can of course, also specify matters which you do not want the Attorney to have control over.

All power of attorney documents have effect once signed (or otherwise, if you say so in the document). Unlike a Lasting PoA, they are not to be drafted now, for use later.

You can use it for almost any situation – whether you are going to Africa to help prevent conflict diamond mining, flying to the moon, or going deep sea dives. It is useful because of its flexibility – you choose the what, how, where, when and who.

This document is suitable for anyone who is going away, abroad, or who will be unable to manage either one or all of their affairs for a period of time.