power of attorney

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A power of attorney (POA) or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. The person authorizing the other to act is the principal, grantor, or donor (of the power). The one authorized to act is the agent, attorney, or in some common law jurisdictions, the attorney-in-fact.
Formerly, the term "power" referred to an instrument signed under seal while a "letter" was an instrument under hand, meaning that it was simply signed by the parties, but today a power of attorney does not need to be signed under seal. Some jurisdictions require that powers of attorney be notarized or witnessed, but others will enforce a power of attorney as long as it is signed by the grantor.

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  1. L

    NSW Power of Attorney Changes

    Elderly widowed aunt in NSW. POA to my father since 1999 - her brother. Married couple she has never met and lived in their cousin's "near to her house" shed, move in on minimal rent. 14 months later, she changes her POA to them. I fully understand that this is her choice legally. She has...
  2. F

    Qld Police DVO Mental Health, Unsound Mind

    Vary DVO (QLD). Police took out a 5 year DVO, I need to vary the order, I have lodged an Application to do so. I am the aggrieved, my son is the defendant. My son was found to have Mental Health issues and at the time of incident and the charges, a Psychiatric Report found he was of unsound...
  3. Unicorngully

    QLD Built a House on Husband's Family's Property - Property Law Rights?

    Hello, Thank you for taking the time to read my question. We (husband and I) built a house on my husband's family property, over 20 years ago (with their permission). We have lived here full time, raised our children here. I work within the local community. My husband and adult son (who still...
  4. J

    QLD Power of Attorney Expectations

    I was Enduring Power of Attorney for my Mum who recently died. A nasty sibling is demanding to see financial records back nearly twenty years, even though I was only EPOA for last five years. I have helped Mum with her accounts for twenty years and she was of sound mind till a few years ago...
  5. G

    WA Power of attorney misuse

    Hi My ex partner tricked me into signing a power of attorney. I had been mentally ill but was still functioning ok. She used it to sell the house and cheat me out of money. I found out later how she was able to sell the house without me signing anything and I obtained a copy of the power of...
  6. G

    VIC administrator of relatives financial and legal matters

    hi, I have been recently appointed by VCAT, administrator of a relatives financial and legal matters. This relative receives a pension. My understanding is that I need to open an account in the relatives name and then Add Power of attorney to this account so that I have full control and can pay...
  7. E

    NSW Will ANZ Bank Accept Another Person as My Representative?

    Hi, I would like to present my original registered revocation of power of attorney document to my ANZ bank. Due to unavailable personal reasons, I cannot visit a branch in person. Would ANZ accept a friend or lawyer as a representative who presents the document for me? Thank you
  8. K

    NSW Family Home Purchase Denied by Power of Attorney - Claim Compensation?

    My grandfather was diagnosed with dementia. My mother and my aunty were made his power of attorney with my mother the enduring guardian. Another family member, living in my grandfather with dementia's home, utterly destroyed the home. It was soiled and damaged. I was asked by my mother to go...
  9. R

    VIC Power of Attorney changing a will

    My brother and I have equal POA for our father, where we can act jointly or severally. Dad is over 95 years, has dementia and is in high level care. Can my brother change the will without my knowledge? I am the primary executor and my brother is the back-up executor.
  10. Y

    WA Rights of executor to obtain financial records from power of attorney

    as executor of the wills of my parents, can I demand the finacial transaction records from an enduring power of attorney whilst this was in operation whilst my parents were alive.