Planning ahead - Powers of Attorney and "Living Wills" - Property

A General Power of Attorney for Property is a legal document that lets your legal representative manage your finances and property while you are capable of making decisions. This is most often used in business relations, for example, to manage someone's property when they are away.

A Continuing Power of Attorney for Property is a legal document that lets your legal representative manage your finances and property when you are incapable of making decisions.

Source: The information above comes from Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for property.

A Continuing Power of Attorney for Property takes effect as soon as it is signed and witnessed. Otherwise, you must indicate in the document that it should not take effect until the time that you become incapable of making decisions.

Source: The information above comes from Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for property.

Choose someone close to you whom you trust to make decisions about your medical and other aspects of care and whom you have spoken to about your wishes for your Power of Attorney for Personal Care.

Source: The information above comes from Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for property.

You can name the same person as your attorney for both property and personal care, or you can name different people.

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.