Enduring Power of Attorney forms made easier
Hon Maggie Barry
Minister for Seniors
15 March
2017
Media Statement
Enduring Power of Attorney forms made easier
The Minister for Seniors Maggie Barry says changes to Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) forms will make them easier to understand and use.
“Knowing you can chose people you trust and who
understand what you want, who will make important personal
and financial decisions for you if you can’t, gives you
peace of mind,” Ms Barry says.
“It should be set up
when you are fit and healthy – mentally and
physically.”
“The changes, which come into effect tomorrow, make it much easier to take that first step towards protecting your future life wishes on your personal health and well-being issues and property matters.”
“Both EPAs are written in plain english and come with an explanation of what setting one up means.”
“The changes won’t affect existing documents but any medical certificates about someone’s mental capacity must meet new requirements.”
“Everyone should set up an Enduring Power of Attorney so your wishes can be carried out if you are not well enough to express them.”
“Seniors can use their Gold Card to receive discounts at 300 legal firms around New Zealand so EPAs and wills cost less to draw up,” Ms Barry says
More information on EPAs is on the SuperSeniors website www.superseniors.msd.govt.nz. The new EPA forms will be available on the website from tomorrow.
Additional
information:
Together with changes to the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 that also take effect tomorrow, the changes will:
· provide
options to change or cancel previous EPAs
·
allow you to cancel your existing attorney and appoint a new
one without affecting the EPA
· Change the
requirements for medical certificates of incapacity so that
health practitioners can use their own versions if they
contain the required information.
· Make it
easier for people, a husband and wife for example, to
appoint each other as their Enduring Power of Attorney by
allowing them to use the same lawyer.
· Require
an authorised witness to certify that you understand what
the documents are about and are not acting under duress.
ends