By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policyfor more information.
Most Popular
Create the document instantly yourself by entering the key details.
A$
77
Most Popular
Create the document instantly yourself by entering the key details.
A$
77
Self Service is not yet available for this document.
77
Create the document yourself with 30 mins help from a lawyer.
Create the legal document yourself with 10 mins help from a lawyer.
A$
132
Create the document yourself with 30 mins help from a lawyer.
Create the legal document yourself with 10 mins help from a lawyer.
A$
132
Lawyer Assisted is not yet available for this document.
Create the legal document yourself with 10 mins help from a lawyer.
We create a bespoke document based on
your instructions.
A$
132
Please turn your device to landscape mode to begin creating your document.
Please turn your device to landscape mode to begin creating your document.
Please turn your device to landscape mode to begin creating your document.
Please turn your device to landscape mode to begin creating your document.
1️⃣ General (Non-Enduring) Power of Attorney [publicly available for free ➲ download here];
2️⃣ Enduring Power of Attorney [this document]; and a
3️⃣ Supportive Power of Attorney.
Both a General (Non-Enduring) Power of Attorney + Supportive Power of Attorney automatically cease if you lose your decision-making capacity after their execution.
If you want the Power of Attorney to continue after you lose your decision-making capacity you must use an Enduring Power of Attorney.
You need to consider that an Attorney will have enormous power over your financial + legal affairs.
You can appoint anyone you will agree to take on the responsibility.
You should choose a person whom you can trust and who will manage your finances in a responsible way.
Usually one or more family members or close friends are appointed as Powers of Attorney, alternatively you may prefer to approach the States Trustees VIC or a private trustee company or lawyer to act as your attorneys, but fees will apply.
A person appointed as an Attorney must not be insolvent and must disclose to you any convictions of an offence involving dishonesty.
In order to be able to grant an Enduring Power of Attorney, you must:
1️⃣ Be 18 years of age or over; and
2️⃣ Have decision-making capacity in relation to making the Enduring Power of Attorney.
The term decision-making capacity is defined in section 4 of the Powers of Attorney Act 2014 (VIC).
A person has the capacity to make a decision as to a matter if the person is able to:-
➲ Understand the information relevant to the decision and the effect of the decision;
➲ Retain that information to the extent necessary to make the decision;
➲ Use or weigh that information as part of the process of making the decision; and
➲ Communicate the decision and the person's views and needs as to the decision in some way, including by speech, gestures or other means.
Yes. A Power of Attorney [whether a GPOA or EPOA] is an important + powerful legal document.
You should get legal advice before you sign it.
An Enduring Power of Attorney must be in the approved written form and comply with the requirements outlined in the Powers of Attorney Act 2014 (VIC):
1️⃣ The enduring power of attorney form must be signed and dated by two adult witnesses in the presence of each other and the principal;
2️⃣ One witness must be a medical practitioner or a person authorised to witness the signing of an affidavit, such as a lawyer;
3️⃣ Each witness must sign a certificate containing information required by the legislation.
This includes a statement that the principal has signed the enduring power of attorney freely and voluntarily in the presence of the witness and appears to have decision-making capacity;
4️⃣ Each attorney must sign and date a statement of acceptance in the appropriate form for the enduring power of attorney to be valid; and
5️⃣ The attorney must keep accurate records of all dealings and transactions made pursuant to the Enduring Power of Attorney.
The prescribed form for the VIC Enduring Power of Attorney notes that a Power of Attorney cannot be used for health decisions.
For these decisions we recommend you use our VIC Advance Care Directive + VIC Appointment of a Medical Decision Maker documents.
No, registration with the Titles Office is not essential.
➲ In order for your Attorney to sell, mortgage, lease more than 3 years, or otherwise deal with your real estate registration with the VIC Titles Office is required.
It is advisable to register your GPOA or EPOA so that it is:
➲ On record as a public document;
➲ Safe from loss or destruction; and
➲ More easily accepted as evidence that your Attorney is allowed to deal with your legal + financial affairs.
After you have signed a General (Non-Enduring) Power of Attorney you still continue to have the authority to deal with your own legal + financial affairs as long as you retain decision-making capacity.
It is at the point of time when you lose your decision-making capacity where the crucial difference between the three types of Power of Attorney becomes apparent.
Important: Once you have lost your decision-making capacity you have no ability to create another Power of Attorney or any other legal document.
The question of decision-making capacity is a complex one.
Once decision-making capacity is lost there is still potential it might return, but it is also possible it may not.
We recommended that as part of your Estate Planning process, both an EPOA + an Advance Care Directive / Medical Treatment Decision Maker / Support Person
Various permutations of these documents are available and the appropriate form will depend upon your individual circumstances and preferences.
Ideally you will conduct your Estate Planning at a time when there is no question regarding your decision-making capacity.
This ensures that in case of something unforeseen happening to you ➲ i.e., a stroke or accident; there will be at least one other person who can quickly + easily look after your money + property.
If not already in place, an Enduring Power of Attorney + other Estate Planning documents can be organised as soon as possible after signs/diagnosis of dementia (this is strongly advised).
A special application for administration orders would need to be made to the VIC Civil + Administrative Tribunal [VCAT] to appoint someone as your administrator.
Note: Fees will apply which will be paid on your behalf using your money. As you would have lost your decision-making capacity you would not be able to do this yourself and would have no control over the process or who is appointed.
If your Attorney does not follow your directions or does not act in your best interest, you should revoke the Power of Attorney.
You or someone on your behalf must take reasonable steps to inform the Attorney of the revocation, preferably in writing.
The Attorney must then immediately cease to act as your Attorney.
Important: Ask your Attorney to return the Power of Attorney document to make sure that they do not continue to act as your Attorney.
If anyone else, such as a bank, has been advised about the Power of Attorney, that person or entity should also be informed of the revocation.
Note: In Victoria, making a new Enduring Power of Attorney (unless specified otherwise) automatically revokes an earlier Enduring Power of Attorney.
You can also formally revoke your General Power of Attorney by completing the Revocation of General Power of Attorney form.
In order to formally revoke your Enduring Power of Attorney you must sign the revocation form in front of two adult witnesses:
1️⃣ Someone authorised to witness affidavits; and
2️⃣ A Medical Practitioner (medical doctor).
If the Power of Attorney has been registered with the VIC Titles Office it will need to be deregistered.
The legislation governing instruments creating Enduring Powers of Attorney in Victoria is:
➲ The Powers of Attorney Act 2014 (VIC); and
➲ The Powers of Attorney Regulations 2015 (VIC).
➲ 💡 Trax Print Fraud + Litigation Prevention Technology $22.
🔒 The Victorian Will + Power of Attorney Registry
[Anyone in Victoria can register information about where they keep their Will + Power of Attorney documents at no charge. There is also the option to physically store originals for free].
Social Sharing Image: Courtesy of AbsolutVision on Unsplash
[VIC] Bundle
➲ Discount code is VICBUNDLE. ➲ Discount on the bundled subsequent documents is 50%.
Enter the code WHen you pay full price to Purchase one of the following Self Service documents:
Re-Enter the code at checkout each time you buy the following documents to get a discount:
Whilst it is acknowledged that the legal document templates provided by the majority of [non law-firm] Australian legal document providers will generally have been prepared by lawyers and that the templates they sell are updated from time to time as required by legislative changes.
This does not change the fact that you are not dealing directly with a law firm.
🧩 If and when you have a legal question?
🧩 If the other party wants to negotiate amendments to the legal document?
🧩 If the legal document does not meet all of the requirements of your specific facts and circumstances?
🧩 If there is a mistake in the legal document?
Lastly, what happens if you are not directly involved in the creation of the legal document?
🧩 What if your accountant, tax agent or financial advisor uses a [non-law firm] online legal document service on your behalf?
To help you answer this question, please read our FAQ: If I create a legal document for my client on your law firm’s website am I giving legal advice or am I a "mere scribe"?
A general answer is that online [non-law firm] Australian Legal Document providers are unable to assist clients directly, as they are unable to provide legal advice.
Certain [non-law firm] providers have adopted a business model whereby they earn a substantial ongoing 12 months+ plus referral fee for directing a client to a large directory of law firms who can assist.
This referral fee is charged to the law firm, who may decide to expense it as a marketing cost.
We submit that one way or another, it is ultimately the client who pays for the cost of the referral fee as it increases the cost of doing business for the law firm providing the service to them.
The valuable feedback we have obtained is that:
❌ The quality of the online legal documents are basic, non-adaptive templates; such that
❌ The client is more often than not, required to seek assistance from a law firm in order to ensure their legal requirements are met.
As lawyers are required to undertake client interviews and make manual amendments to the legal documents, the final cost ends up much higher than the client could have anticipated, especially when the original online legal document was given away for free or at a nominal cost.
These kinds of business models may not rise to the level of bait & switch, however they may be found to constitute misleading and deceptive conduct.
In our submission, clients appear to be lead to believe that in the majority of cases they will be able to use the standard online documents without the need to engage a law firm to assist, when in actual fact this is not the case.
When you purchase online legal documents directly from us, we have every incentive to ensure the quality of the online legal documents provided are as high as possible, and that you have all your questions answered.
List of Benefits:
✅ Our law firm already has a copy of your online responses so we can assist quickly and cost effectively.
✅ 1-stop shop. There is no need to wade through a directory of different law firms each time.
✅ Professional Indemnity Insurance (when you engage us for legal advice);
✅ Higher quality automatically tailored legal documents using Embedded Lawyer-Logic™;
✅ Deal directly with a law firm, no need for middlemen;
✅ No referral fees built into the business model;
✅ Lower overall legal costs;
✅ Legal document delivered directly from our .law web domain so you know we created the legal document;
✅ Legal Professional Privilege; and
✅ Enhanced Confidentiality.
Credits:
This FAQ was created by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.
Our Legal Health Check is a process that helps you identify + prioritise your individual + business (if relevant) legal needs.
1️⃣ Complete our Intelligent Questionnaire:
You will be asked to provide information about your personal and/or business circumstances;
2️⃣ Automated Report:
The process uses inbuilt Embedded Lawyer-Logic™ to help you identify key legal risks + concerns and prioritise solutions.
A customised (jargon-free) report is generated in plain english with actionable recommendations.
3️⃣ Deliver Solutions:
You can then consider the information in your own time, and when convenient, select the most appropriate self-service legal documents from our online 24/7 portal or reach out to our legal team to discuss your options in more detail.
🧩 Estate planning;
🧩 Marriage and de facto relationships;
🧩 Tax structuring;
🧩 Dispute avoidance/resolution;
🧩 Investment properties;
🧩 Business sale/purchase;
🧩 Business financing;
🧩 Co-ownership arrangements;
🧩 Managing staff;
🧩 Commercial terms;
🧩 Websites and intellectual property;
🧩 Regulatory compliance.
This is an amazing way to quickly + proactively identify legal risks + opportunities to get your legal affairs in order!
Our Buccaneer Package is designed for individuals + includes our constantly expanding library of [Self-Service] personal legal documents.
It is compelling value with pricing at less than $1 per day which entitles you to access heavily discounted [members only] prices.
You could save thousands $$$ on your legal bills!
Our Yachtsman Package designed for business owners includes our constantly expanding library of [Self-Service] personal + business legal documents.
It is compelling value with pricing at circa $3.50 per day [equivalent to the price of a cup of tea or coffee!] which entitles you to access heavily discounted [members only] prices.
You could save thousands $$$ on your personal + business legal spend!
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Our intelligent online questionnaire adapts to your answers and only asks relevant questions.
Simply follow the guidance and enter the requested information about your matter.
The information is then sent to our back-end legal document generation engine, which follows a matrix of algorithms to make decisions about what should be in your legal document, just as an expert human lawyer would do.
The engine then draws from an enormous body of content to assemble a top-tier quality legal document that’s tailored to your situation + requirements.
Our Embedded Lawyer-Logic™ technology includes numerous quality control checks + automatic error-correction, massively reducing the risk of human error.
The finished document is then emailed to you in PDF format, ready to print and sign.
Your answers to the online questionnaire and a copy of the finished document in both Word + PDF formats are automatically forwarded to our legal team.
If we notice anything out of-the-ordinary we will contact you to discuss.
If you are a subscribed member or opt for paid Lawyer-Assistance, we will use the allocated time to assist to clarify and resolve any questions you may have.
If your matter is complex, high risk or you have never been involved in legal matters before, we highly recommend you opt for our Full Service.
Our legal team will contact you and assist you throughout the entire process.
If you are a subscribed member the cost for the time spent by our legal team to assist you is heavily discounted.
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Our [Self-Service] legal documents are designed to be completed "without the intervention of a lawyer".
This approach will be appropriate for the majority of routine legal matters, where you are experienced and have learnt what needs to be considered and have gained experience in using our 24/7 online document portal to generate your legal documents instantly.
Some routine matters maybe totally new to you (meaning that you will have questions and we recommend you select our [Lawyer-Assisted] service).
Other matters maybe unusually complex, or of such high-value or risk that involving our legal team is the prudent course to take.
For these matters we recommend you select our [Full Service] option.
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
It was once said:
It would take the combined processing power of every computer in the world thousands of years to crack 4096-bit encryption.
In a more general context (outside of encrypted secure website traffic/data) it has also been said:
Data with 4096-bit encryption (only protected by a password) could still be compromised within seconds.
How? Human error.
Easy pass-phrase, written down password, re-used password... etc. basically, always be on the lookout for the weakest link.
Trust the technology, but never trust the weak link - the user!
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
⚖️ Professional Indemnity (Limited Liability) by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation;
⚖️ Access to Professional Fee Funding* / Disbursement Fee Funding / Family Law Funding (subject to approval by QuickFee our external legal finance provider);
✅ Allocated Time included to understand your circumstances + objectives, answer your queries + provide legal advice & make recommendations regarding alternative/additional options; and
✅ Create your standardised Legal Document based on your instructions.
⚖️ Use of proprietary fonts to maximise fraud prevention;
⚖️ Use of our Law Firm Letterhead;
➲ Send your Legal Document for electronic signature/s using AdobeSign; and/or
🔒 Application of TraxPrint Legal Document Security Technology for Fraud + Litigation Prevention.
* More Information about Professional Fee Funding:
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
⚖️ *.law is a top-level-domain (TLD) that aims to:
Promote trust in the professional legal community by creating a:
✅ Verified;
✅ Exclusive; and
✅ Reserved online space in which only accredited lawyers and law firms can establish a comprehensive digital brand.
✅ Website users can have confidence they are dealing with an authorised and licensed lawyer/law firm.
✅ *.law offers effective branding to those in the legal community, with the ability to secure a domain name that clearly communicates who you are + the legal resources you provide.
Source: join.law - Why *.law?
If your role is merely that of a "scribe or scrivener" as outlined below it is unlikely you would be deemed to be providing legal advice or engaging in the practice of law.
Unfortunately this is not as easy as it once was … when online legal document templates were all static "fill in the blanks" one-size-fits-all templates.
Increasingly, the capabilities + complexities of legal document automation have evolved to cater to an ever widening range of facts and conditions.
Using the complex design + incorporation of what we call Embedded-Lawyer Logic™ it is no longer possible to avoid the automated tailoring of the online legal document to suit the client's circumstances + legal needs.
They are designed to produce a quality bespoke legal document just like a lawyer does.
The use of Embedded-Lawyer-Logic™ in the online process:
✅ Is now very similar to a client being interviewed by a lawyer;
✅ It drills down to ask the same questions and provide the same options a highly experienced + competent lawyer is required to do.
As a result the draft legal document created now has the potential to vary significantly based on the responses provided by the client.
We have now progressed to the point that the new normal online process is designed to cause your role to fall outside of the role of a "scribe or scrivener" alluded to below.
In the leading case on this issue Legal Practice Board v Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd [2007] WASC 184; 35 WAR 59 (Simmonds J) noted at para. [152] that Brinsden J in Barristers Board v Palm Management Pty Ltd [1984] WAR 101 referred to Re Matthews (1938) 79 P 2d 535, apparently with approval, as follows at para. [108]*:
The court went on to say that where an instrument is to be shaped from a mass of facts and conditions, the legal effect of which must be carefully determined by a mind trained in the existing law in order to ensure a specific result and to guard against others, more than the knowledge of the layman is required and a charge for such services brings it definitely within the term 'practice of the law' [emphasis added].
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you advise your client to either:
✅ Create the draft legal document themselves + ensure independent legal advice is sought from our legal team prior to negotiation and execution; or
✅ Instruct you to create the legal documents using our Lawyer-Assisted option.
Doing this ensures your role is clearly limited to that of a "scribe or scrivener".
Our legal team will then take the responsibility for reviewing your client's individual circumstances together with the draft legal document in order to provide your client with the relevant legal advice, ensure your client understands their legal position and options, and to propose and make any required amendments to the legal document based on your client's instructions.
In Legal Practice Board v Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd [supra]*:
… the court held that work of the mere clerical kind, such as filling out of skeletal blanks or drawing instruments of generally recognised and stereotype forms effectuating the conveyance or encumbrance of property, such as a simple deed or mortgage not involving the determination of the legal effect of special facts and conditions, should be generally regarded as the legitimate right of any layman because it involves nothing more or less than the clerical operations of the now almost obsolete scrivener (emphasis added).
(The scrivener was eliminated in England by the 1804 Act.).
The 2007 case of the Legal Practice Board v. Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd* serves as a timely reminder to members that there are legislative provisions in each state and territory which prohibit a person who is not a legal practitioner from engaging in legal practice.
This prohibition is mirrored in the Institute’s regulations relating to public practice (regulation 1207).
However, there are differences between the jurisdictions as to how the prohibition is framed.
Even so, members who use the services of document providers are urged, as a minimum, to:
✅ Use only reputable document providers whose services are backed by competent legal practitioners;
✅ Ensure that they abide by the terms and conditions of the document providers as to the use of the documents and their supply to clients; and
✅ Avoid redrafting of documents to suit the circumstances of individual clients, unless appropriate legal advice is obtained by the relevant parties.
The Institute believes that the recent WA case does not require any change to a member's legitimate use of this type of service in accordance with their terms and conditions.
However, if you have any concerns or queries about the use of document providers, you should seek legal advice.
Sources:
* Legal Practice Board v Computer Accounting and Tax Pty Ltd [2007] WASC 184;
^ Extracted from the article: Court case raises issues about preparation of legal documents.
Credits:
This FAQ was created by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.
Note: You can find the TraxPrint QR Code on the bottom of the first, last or every page, depending upon the preference set by the author of the document.
✅ By way of example, Double-Click on the below sample TraxPrint QR Code within the PDF document:
➲ You will be taken to the TraxPrint.com website and a message similar to the following will appear:
✅ Send an email with the PDF document attached to check@traxprint.com
❌ If there is no response the PDF document is not authentic.
➲ If the PDF document is authentic, you will receive (within approx. 2 minutes or less) a reply email with a Certificate of Authenticity and the Original PDF both attached.
✅ Download the free TraxPrint App from the iOS AppStore or Android GooglePlay
➲ Register + Sign-in to the App then ✅ Scan the TraxPrint QR Code to Verify.
✅ Drag n' Drop the PDF Document File into the designated area.
➲ You will receive an instant response regarding the authenticity of the document.
💡 This feature is coming soon and will be available on a dedicated page on our website.
Credits:
This FAQ was created by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.
The below iPhone 12 screen shoots demonstrate what we mean by "^anywhere (even from your mobile phone, if necessary)".
Credits:
This FAQ was created by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.
Formal Arrangements
Plan A ➲ EPOA
Ensure you are able to keep your Pet/s with you [as long as possible] by providing specific written directions ahead of time and including financial provision for the support of yourself, your Pet/s long-term care, maintenance, health + insurance + potentially your Pet/s carer in your Enduring Power of Attorney [EPOA] / NT Advance Person Plan.
Informal Arrangements
Plan B ➲ Friends or Family
Plan C ➲ RSPCA
Think of setting up an informal arrangement with the RSPCA as an Insurance Policy just in case for some reason your friends or family circumstances change and they are no longer in a suitable position to take on the responsibility for long-term care of your Pet/s.
RSPCA Home Ever After / Pet Bequest / Pet Legacy program
For a more detailed discussion please refer to our blog article “Your Pets are Family: Providing Emergency + Long-Term Care for your Furry, Fluffy or Fine-Feathered Friends!" by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Credits:
This FAQ was written by James D. Ford GAICD | Principal Solicitor, Blue Ocean Law Group℠.
Important Notice:
This FAQ is intended for general interest + information only.
It is not legal advice, nor should it be relied upon or used as such.
We recommend you always consult a lawyer for legal advice specifically tailored to your needs & circumstances.
