POWERS OF ATTORNEY / LIVING WILLS

Ontario's Substitute Decisions Act allows for two types of Powers of Attorney: one for Property, the other for Personal Care.

A Power of Attorney for Property appoints someone to act on your behalf with respect to all property matters. It can be made effective immediately or be "triggered" by a defining event.

A Power of Attorney for Personal Care, often called a Medical Power of Attorney, appoints someone who will have the right to make decisions of a personal nature on your behalf. By its very nature it becomes effective only upon your mental disability. This Power of Attorney has attached to it what is commonly referred to as a "living will," namely, specific instructions that you leave with your chosen attorney as to difficult "end-of-life decisions." The living will can be as specific as you wish, but here are four basic options that you might wish to consider.

There are many issues to be discussed and resolved before you make the grant of either Power of Attorney, and we would be pleased to advise you on them.