PART 2S CONTINUING POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND WELFARE POWERS OF ATTORNEY

15 Creation of continuing power of attorneyS

(1)Where an individual grants a power of attorney relating to his property or financial affairs in accordance with the following provisions of this section that power of attorney shall, notwithstanding any rule of law, continue to have effect in the event of the granter’s becoming incapable in relation to decisions about the matter to which the power of attorney relates.

(2)In this Act a power of attorney granted under subsection (1) is referred to as a “continuing power of attorney” and a person on whom such power is conferred is referred to as a “continuing attorney”.

(3)A continuing power of attorney shall be valid only if it is expressed in a written document which—

(a)is subscribed by the granter;

(b)incorporates a statement which clearly expresses the granter’s intention that the power be a continuing power;

[F1(ba)where the continuing power of attorney is exercisable only if the granter is determined to be incapable in relation to decisions about the matter to which the power relates, states that the granter has considered how such a determination may be made;]

(c)incorporates a certificate in the prescribed form by [F2a practising solicitor] or by a member of another prescribed class that—

(i)he has interviewed the granter immediately before the granter subscribed the document;

(ii)he is satisfied, either because of his own knowledge of the granter or because he has consulted [F3another person] (whom he names in the certificate) who [F4has] knowledge of the granter, that at the time the continuing power of attorney is granted the granter understands its nature and extent;

(iii)he has no reason to believe that the granter is acting under undue influence or that any other factor vitiates the granting of the power.

(4)[F5A practising solicitor] or member of another prescribed class may not grant a certificate under subsection (3)(c) if he is the person to whom the power of attorney has been granted.

[F6(5)It is declared that the rule of law which provides that an agent's authority ends in the event of the bankruptcy of the principal or the agent applies, and has applied since subsection (1) came into force, in relation to continuing powers of attorney.]

Textual Amendments