Powers of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the right, while you are still alive, to act on your behalf with respect to your financial affairs, including debts. There are a variety of reasons you might assign such power to someone, and different types of Powers of Attorney to address these reasons.

The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start

Legislation

Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta publications on the topic:

All CPLEA publications: www.cplea.ca/publications


For further resources on this topic and related documents, see the legal topic: Wills and estates

 


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

This booklet produced by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta is for people who have been asked to be an Attorney under someone’s Enduring Power of Attorney. It explains what is involved in being an Attorney. There are two sections: a question and answer section touching on issues to consider beforeyou accept the job as well as common questions and examples; and a checklist section that helps guide you when the donor—the person who gave you Power of Attorney—loses capacity. This booklet gives general information only, not legal advice. It is not a do-it-yourself guide. This 16 page PDF is available for free download.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates

This booklet produced by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta is for people who are wondering if they should write a Power of Attorney. It is about putting your affairs in order and planning for the future. It explains what is involved in making a Power of Attorney and how a Power of Attorney can help you to look after your current and future financial affairs. It describes some common examples.  This 16 page PDF is available for free download.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates

Alberta Resources

This website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA) focuses on how Canadian law protects and affects older adults. Topic areas covered include elder abuse, planning for the future, personal and family relationships, and various other issues (e.g. consumer, travel).

Related legal topic(s): Consumer protection and fraud, Elder abuse, Family law general resources, Guardianship and trusteeship, Wills and estates

This online resource from Calgary Legal Guidance discusses Enduring Powers of Attorney in Alberta. An Enduring Power of Attorney should be prepared ahead of time before you suffer mental incapacity or illness which renders you unable to make sound decisions about your money and business matters. By an Enduring Power of Attorney, you appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you at a future time when you no longer have the capacity to make your own decisions.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates

This is a series of publications developed with funding from Employment and Social Development Canada. The multimedia resource package is focused on increasing the knowledge and awareness of how intermediaries can use the law to prevent and reduce elder abuse. (Resources are available in English and French)

Related legal topic(s): Elder abuse, Wills and estates

This online resource from Calgary Legal Guidance discusses Powers of Attorney in Alberta. A Power of Attorney gives someone authority to handle your financial and estate matters. It is a written document that says someone else, your agent, can step into your shoes and act with the same authority as you have in looking after your finances and estate.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates

This online resource from the Office of the Public Trustee (Alberta) provides information about enduring powers of attorney. Sections include: Why you need an Enduring Power of Attorney; Choosing an attorney; Keep your Power of Attorney current; Cancelling an Enduring Power of Attorney; When a donor dies; Other things to consider.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates

Canada/Federal

This publication provides general information about Powers of Attorney that deal with finances and property, and general information about joint bank accounts.

Related legal topic(s): Wills and estates