ByLawyers News and Updates

Power of attorney – NSW

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The prescribed forms for creating both a general and an enduring power of attorney in New South Wales have been slightly amended.

The Powers of Attorney Regulation 2024 commenced when it was published on 23 August 2024.

The regulation repeals and remakes, with minor amendments, the Powers of Attorney Regulation 2016, which would otherwise be automatically repealed on 1 September 2024 by virtue of s 10(2) of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989.

The 2024 regulation prescribes—

  • the classes of persons who may certify that a document is a true and complete copy of an instrument creating a power of attorney, and
  • the form to create a general power of attorney, and
  • the form to create an enduring power of attorney, and
  • savings and formal matters.

The provisions in the 2024 regulation are substantially the same as the 2016 regulation. The only amendments are to the Important information and the Notes for completion in both the general and enduring powers of attorney forms, simply to update the name and contact details for  NSW Land Registry Services, and where to obtain further information, being: the Office of the Registrar General, and the NSW Trustee and Guardian.

By Lawyers Powers of Attorney (NSW) guide contains six versions of the powers of attorney precedents, general and enduring, catering for various iterations of attorney/s and substitute attorneys. These precedents are automated for LEAP users. They have all been updated to reflect the new prescribed forms, and a link to the new regulation has been included in the commentary.

Powers – NSW

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Among By Lawyers most frequently used precedents in New South Wales are powers of attorney, appointments of enduring guardian, and the related personal documents associated with lifestyle, health, and estate planning. With an ageing population it is not surprising that lawyers are increasingly called upon to advise their clients on these documents and to prepare one or more of them, often at the same time a client gives instructions for preparation of their will.

As a result of feedback from our subscribers, a number of formatting amendments have been made to the following precedents, with a view to maximising the benefits of document automation, ensuring consistency, and enhancing usability:

  • General powers of attorney;
  • Enduring powers of attorney;
  • Appointments of enduring guardian;
  • Advance care directive;
  • Revocations.

We encourage and value all feedback from subscribers using these and our other precedents; it is one of the ways that we consistently enhance and update our content.

These precedents are found in the Powers of Attorney, Appointment of Enduring Guardian, and Advance Care Planning (NSW) publication.

Until 2003, powers of attorney in NSW were made under the Conveyancing Act 1919 and were used to cover all decisions relating to both the donor’s financial affairs and any health or lifestyle decisions to be made on their behalf. With the introduction of the Powers of Attorney Act 2003 and related amendments to the Guardianship Act 1987 passed at the same time, the parliament created the current regime under which decisions about a donor’s financial affairs are covered by a general power of attorney or, if the donor has lost capacity, an enduring power of attorney, and decisions relating to a donor’s health and lifestyle are covered by their appointment of an enduring guardian. Powers of attorney previously prepared under the Conveyancing Act 1919 remain effective under the Powers of Attorney 2003.

COVID signing provisions – QLD

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From 1 July 2021, some of the COVID signing provisions applicable in Queensland during the pandemic will cease.

The Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response– Documents and Oaths) Amendment Regulation (No.2) 2021 means that from 1 July any ‘enduring’ documents – wills, enduring powers of attorney, and advance health directives – to be signed by a signatory or substitute signatory need to be made, signed and witnessed under the ordinary law.

One remaining exception is the modified COVID signing provisions that enable nursing practitioners, in addition to doctors, to complete a certificate in an advance health directive stating that the signatory appeared to have the necessary capacity to make it.

This regulation also does not affect the modified arrangements under the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response—Documents and Oaths) Regulation 2020 in relation to the making, signing and witnessing of affidavits, statutory declarations, oaths, deeds, particular mortgages and general powers of attorney under the documents regulation. These measures are currently scheduled to expire on 30 September 2021.

The By Lawyers dedicated Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues commentary will be updated. This guide, accessed via a link at the top of every By Lawyers matter plan, provides practitioners with helpful information about all relevant COVID signing provisions and other important temporary COVID measures.

See the By Lawyers Wills, Powers of Attorney & Advance Health Directives and Mortgages publications for more information. See also the folder of Blank deeds, agreements, statutory declarations and execution clauses in folder A. Getting the matter underway folder on the matter plan in every By Lawyers publication.

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