WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY AND WHAT you SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

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​A Power of Attorney is a document that empowers one person to conduct business on another's behalf and manage his or her affairs. The person giving the power is usually called the Donor. The person who is given the power is called the Donee or Attorney. Here's what you should know about Powers of Attorney:

1. A person appointed under a Power of Attorney is not required to be an attorney-at-law.

Although the person on whom the power is conferred is called an "attorney" that person is not required to be an attorney-at-law. This person can be a trusted family member, friend or acquaintance. 

2. Powers of Attorney are usually used in certain circumstances.
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Powers of Attorney are usually used when the Donor lives abroad or has a disability or is ill (but not mentally incapacitated) and is unable to manage his or her affairs or be present to sign legal documents or go to financial institutions. One should always consult with an attorney-at-law in regard to whether their circumstances require the use of a power of attorney as these documents give significant powers to the person or persons appointed by it.

3. There are different types of Powers of Attorney

• A Specific Power of Attorney: This is a power of attorney that is limited  to a specific matter, for example, to sell a motor vehicle or sell a piece of land on behalf of someone or administer an estate on another's behalf.
  
  
• A General Power of Attorney: This is a power of attorney that gives the attorney wide powers over the Donor's affairs. 

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4. A Power of Attorney ceases to be effective once the donor's mental capacity is impaired.
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In Trinidad and Tobago, except for particular circumstances expressed in section 58 of the Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, once a Donor becomes mentally incapacitated, the Power of Attorney is revoked, that is, the Attorney can no longer legally act on the Donor's behalf.

In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, laws have been passed to allow for Powers of Attorney to remain valid even after the Donor has become mentally incapacitated. However, Trinidad and Tobago presently has no legislation in place to allow for this. 

In Trinidad and Tobago, if a Donor becomes mentally incapacitated and his or her relatives would like to act on his or her behalf, they would have to make an application to the court under the Mental Health Act to be appointed as a Committee of the mentally incapacitated person. 

5. A Power of Attorney must be registered to be effective.

In Trinidad and Tobago, a Power of Attorney takes the form of a Deed and must be prepared by an attorney-at-law and must be registered at the office of the Registrar General.

​6. A Power of Attorney can be revoked.

A Donor can also revoke the powers he or she has given to a Donee. This is done by drafting, signing and registering a Deed of Revocation.

Important Notice: This post does not constitute or provide legal advice. Always consult with a suitably qualified attorney-at-law on any legal problem or issue.

Law For All is managed by the AURORA Chambers Legal Practice.

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