General and enduring powers of attorney – where to find information and forms
A power of attorney is an important legal document in which you have given someone else permission to act for you in case you become incapacitated.
Each of the state and territory Parliaments have made laws regulating such personal legal documents and passed powers of attorney acts and regulations. These acts and regulations prescribe the procedures and forms. Note there are variations between the jurisdictions.
A power of attorney document can be made for a short, specified time or for a specific reason. This is referred to as a general power of attorney.
Or it might be for the rest of your life when it is known as an enduring power of attorney. All powers of attorney become invalid on death.
For more information and forms visit the sites below.
| NSW | NSW Land Registry Services | The Registrar General’s Guidelines on powers of attorney Forms prescribed by NSW land legislation for dealing with Powers of Attorney are provided on the NSW Land Registry Services site – search the list of forms here. |
| VIC | Office of the Public Advocate | The Office of the Public Advocate provides information on the making an enduring power of attorney. |
| SA | SA Govt, Planning & Community | Power of attorney – general and enduring |
| WA | Public Trustee | https://www.publictrustee.wa.gov.au/ |
| QLD | Queensland Government | Power of attorney |
| TAS | Land Titles Office, Land Tasmania | https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/land-tasmania/land-titles-office/power-of-attorney-forms |
| NT | Dept. of the Attorney General | https://www.nt.gov.au/justice/bdm/land_title_office/power.shtml#4 |
| ACT | Public Trustee | Power of attorney – general and enduring |
Can a power of attorney in one state be used in another?
To find out whether a power of attorney made in one state/territory can be used in another, contact the government departments above as to their requirements or a legal practitioner.
Usually if a power of attorney has been made in accordance with the legal formalities and regulations prescribed in one state it will be recognised in another, but enquiries should be made all the same.
As everyone’s circumstances vary, legal advice should be sought when making a power of attorney to tailor it to individual needs.
30 September 2015, updated 13 May 2021.
B Stead
BHS Legal
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