An Enduring Power of attorney is a legal device that can be set up by a person (the donor) during his/her life when he/she is in good mental health. It allows another specially appointed person (the attorney) to take actions on the donor’s behalf if he/she becomes mentally incapacitated (for example, because of illness, disability or a progressive degenerative illness).

Normally, when someone becomes mentally incapacitated, all of their assets and property are frozen and cannot be used by anyone else unless they are jointly owned. If you have concerns that you may become mentally incapacitated in the future it may be advisable that you grant someone power of attorney to deal with your property, money or care decisions.