Are you looking to safeguard your future or ensure that your loved ones are taken care of in the event of an unforeseen circumstance? Velos & Velos Lawyers are Power of Attorney Lawyers in Melbourne who can guide you through the complexities of appointing a Power of Attorney. With decades of experience in family and estate law, we have extensive expertise in ensuring that your Financial Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney are valid, and that your personal and medical decisions are in trusted hands.
What is a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make important personal decisions, such as financial decisions, on your behalf if you become unable to do so. Whether it’s managing your finances, taking care of personal affairs, or making medical decisions, a POA ensures that your wishes are respected even when you are not able to voice them.
There are different types of Powers of Attorney in Victoria:
- General Power of Attorney: Appointed for a specific period or task, often used for financial matters.
- Enduring Power of Attorney: An enduring power of attorney covers financial affairs and personal matters and continues to be effective if you lose the capacity to make decisions.
- Medical Treatment Decision Maker: Specifically for healthcare decisions, ensuring your medical preferences are upheld.
Why You Need a Power of Attorney
Life can be unpredictable, and it’s essential to prepare for unexpected events such as illness, disability, loss of mental capacity or accidents. By appointing a Power of Attorney, you are giving someone you trust the legal authority to act on your behalf, ensuring your affairs are managed smoothly and according to your preferences. Without a POA, your family may need to apply to the courts or VCAT in Guardianship cases to make these decisions for you, which can be a lengthy and costly process.
At Velos & Velos Lawyers, we help you understand which type of Power of Attorney suits your needs and guide you through the process of appointing someone who will act in your best interests. As power of attorney lawyers in Melbourne, we can assist you in creating a power of attorney to protect you and your family.
How Velos & Velos Lawyers Can Help
Navigating the legalities of creating a Power of Attorney can be daunting, but our expert lawyers are here to simplify the process. We provide tailored advice and ensure that your documents are drafted with precision and clarity. Here’s how we can assist:
- Personalised Legal Advice: We take the time to understand your unique circumstances and recommend the best Power of Attorney arrangement for you, whether it’s financial, personal, or medical.
- Comprehensive Document Preparation: Our team ensures that all legal power of attorney documents are correctly drafted, minimising the risk of future disputes or confusion.
- Updates and Amendments: Life changes and so do your circumstances. If you need to update or revoke your Power of Attorney, we’ll assist you every step of the way.
- Expert Representation: If disputes arise regarding the execution of a Power of Attorney, our experienced lawyers are ready to provide legal representation and protect your interests.
Why Choose Velos & Velos Lawyers?
At Velos & Velos Lawyers, we pride ourselves on providing personalised, effective and compassionate legal services. Our firm has served Melbourne residents, interstate and international clients for decades, with a focus on family law, wills and estates, Powers of Attorney matters, contesting wills, probate and property settlement. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Experienced Legal Team: With years of expertise in Power of Attorney law, we provide reliable, trusted advice.
- Client-Focused Approach: We believe in building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring you feel supported and confident in your legal decisions.
- Private and confidential legal services: including legal advice in conference on affordable rates prior to issuing legal proceedings
- Convenient Melbourne Location: Located in the Melbourne CBD, Flagstaff train station, trams, near public transport and convenient parking, our firm is easily accessible for consultations and legal assistance.
Contact Velos & Velos Lawyers Today
Ensure your future is protected with the right legal support. Contact Velos & Velos Lawyers today to schedule a consultation and discuss your Power of Attorney needs. Whether you’re looking to appoint someone to handle your financial affairs, personal matters, medical or healthcare decisions, our dedicated team is here to help.
Take control of your future and gain peace of mind with the trusted guidance of Velos & Velos Lawyers. Contact us on 03 8379 1000 or us the Contact Us link below to get in touch with power of attorney lawyers in Melbourne.
Glossary of Power of Attorney Terms (Australia)
Power of Attorney (POA)
A legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf in managing your financial, personal, or medical affairs. POA can be limited to specific tasks or periods, or it can be ongoing (enduring).
General Power of Attorney
A POA that allows the appointed attorney to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf for a specified period or purpose. It becomes invalid if you lose mental capacity.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA)
An enduring power of attorney is a type of POA that remains in effect even if the person who made it loses the capacity to make decisions. This is typically used for long-term financial or personal matters.
Medical Treatment Decision Maker
A legal document that appoints someone to make medical treatment decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions yourself.
Donor (or Principal)
The person who creates a Power of Attorney, giving someone else the authority to make decisions on their behalf.
Attorney
The individual or entity appointed to act on behalf of the donor in accordance with the Power of Attorney. The attorney’s powers are defined by the type of POA granted.
Revocation of Power of Attorney
The formal process of cancelling or withdrawing a Power of Attorney. The donor must have legal capacity to revoke the authority they previously granted.
Capacity
The legal ability of a person to understand and make decisions. If someone lacks capacity, they cannot legally create or revoke a Power of Attorney.
Personal Matters
Decisions about the donor’s personal lifestyle, including living arrangements, health and daily care, which can be covered under an Enduring Power of Attorney.
Vesting
The process by which the attorney’s power under the POA takes effect, either immediately upon signing or upon the occurrence of a specified event (e.g., loss of capacity).
These terms are essential when navigating Power of Attorney matters in Australia, particularly under the legal framework provided by the Powers of Attorney Act 2014 (Victoria).
Velos & Velos Lawyers, with their over 40 years’ experience and expertise, can assist with a broad range of legal matters
As family lawyers in Melbourne, we can assist you with a range of family legal requirements, including:
- Property Settlement – learn more about our services as Property Settlement Lawyers in Melbourne.
- Wills and Estates – learn more about our services as Wills and Estates Lawyers in Melbourne.
- Family Law – visit our Family Lawyers Melbourne page for a complete description of our family law services.
- Bankruptcy Law – visit our Bankruptcy Lawyers Melbourne page for a complete description of our family law services.
- Insolvency – visit our Insolvency Lawyers Melbourne page for more information on our services.
- Probate – see our Probate Lawyers Melbourne page for information on the probate process and our probate legal services.
Contact our power of attorney lawyers in Melbourne on 03 8379 1000 or us the Contact Us link below to get in touch.
