When can my appointed Attorney start making decisions?

You can choose when your attorney’s powers start.

For example, in Victoria, under an enduring power of attorney, you can choose whether your attorney can use the powers you give them:

• straight away
• when you are not able to make decisions for yourself
• from a particular time, circumstance or occasion.

An attorney must act in line with your directions or instructions while you can still make decisions.

With a general power of attorney, you can also choose a date or situation when your attorney’s powers will end.

Keep in mind that you can’t make another person your power of attorney after you have lost the ability to make your own decisions.