Enduring Powers of Attorney
Planning for When You Can't Make Decisions Yourself
If something happened to you tomorrow and you couldn't make decisions, who would pay your bills, handle your banking, or speak with your doctors? Enduring powers of attorney are your legal back-up plan.
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Enduring Power of Attorney Fees
All fees include GST. Property transaction clients receive 50% off EPA fees.
| Service | 1 Person | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| EPA for Property | $300 | $500 |
| EPA for Welfare | $300 | $500 |
| Both EPAs | $600 | $1,000 |
| AML compliance (required) | $276 | $322 |
Property transaction clients: 50% discount on EPA fees. AML fee is not discounted.
💡 EPAs as part of an estate plan
EPAs are included in all our will-based and trust-based estate plans. If you are setting up a complete estate plan, it is more cost-effective to include EPAs as part of the plan rather than separately.
Complete Your Questionnaire
Once you've accepted your quote and Terms of Engagement, complete the online questionnaire from the comfort of your own home. It takes 15–25 minutes and saves automatically — stop and return anytime.
Online Questionnaire (Coming soon)
Complete the full questionnaire online. Your answers save automatically.
Preparation Guide
Download first to see what information you'll need before starting online.
The preparation guide follows the same section order as the online questionnaire.
Use it to gather names, dates and details before you begin — then complete everything online.
What Are Enduring Powers of Attorney?
The right people, with the right powers, ready to step in when you can't.
An enduring power of attorney (EPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become mentally incapable. There are two types — one for property (money and assets) and one for personal care and welfare (healthcare and living arrangements).
Without EPAs, if you lose the ability to make decisions, your family may need to apply to the Family Court to have someone appointed — a process that takes time, costs money, and means you don't have control over who is appointed or what powers they have.
Under New Zealand law, it is mandatory for a lawyer or qualified legal executive to give you advice and witness your signature for your EPA to be legally effective. We do this in a way that is thorough, but friendly and easy to understand.
The Two Types of EPA
A Property EPA lets you appoint one or more people you trust to make decisions about your bank accounts and investments, bills and everyday spending, your home and other property, and business interests and other assets.
You can choose whether your Property EPA takes effect straight away (useful if you want help with day-to-day finances while you're still capable) or only takes effect if you are later found to be mentally incapable.
You can also set conditions and limits on what your attorney can do, require them to consult certain people (for example, other family members or your accountant), and ask for reporting and monitoring — such as regular statements going to a trusted person.
A Personal Care and Welfare EPA lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about where you live, your day-to-day care and support, medical treatment and support services, and your general well-being.
Important points: you can only have one personal care and welfare attorney acting at a time (you can name backups), this EPA only takes effect if you are found to be mentally incapable, and your attorney can be authorised to act generally or only for specific matters.
There are some decisions your personal care and welfare attorney cannot make for you, including agreeing to a marriage or civil union, consenting to your child being adopted, refusing standard medical treatment needed to save your life, consenting to electro-convulsive treatment (ECT), certain brain surgery, or treatment mainly designed to change your behaviour. These limits protect you and ensure only appropriate decisions can be made on your behalf.
Before You Start — EPA Checklist
It helps to do a little thinking in advance. Bring these notes to your appointment and the process will be faster and easier.
Choose Your Attorneys
Think about who is sensible, trustworthy, and good with money (for property) or care decisions (for welfare). Consider what you do and don't want them to be able to do.
Choose Backup Attorneys
Name people who can step in if your first-choice attorney can't carry on. This avoids having to go back to court if something changes.
List Your Assets & Debts
Main assets (house, vehicles, savings, investments, KiwiSaver, business interests) and any money owed to you or debts you have.
Decide on Controls
When should your Property EPA start? Who should your attorney consult? How will they be monitored? Consider appointing someone to check financial records or receive regular statements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. For Property EPAs, you can appoint more than one attorney and decide whether they act together (jointly) or separately. For Personal Care and Welfare EPAs, the law only allows one attorney to act at a time, but you can name one or more successor attorneys.
A Property EPA can start immediately, or only if you become mentally incapable — you choose. A Personal Care and Welfare EPA only starts if you become mentally incapable.
Yes. You can change or revoke your EPAs at any time while you are still mentally capable. This might include changing attorneys, updating conditions, or changing when they come into effect. There are formal steps you must follow, including signing a written revocation and notifying your attorneys and key organisations.
Yes. For an EPA to be valid, the law requires that a lawyer or qualified legal executive (who is independent of your attorneys) give you advice and witness your signature on the EPA forms.
If you become mentally incapable and don't have EPAs, your family or others may need to apply to the Family Court so someone can be appointed to make decisions for you. That process takes time, costs money, and you don't have control over who is appointed or what powers they have. Having EPAs in place now avoids that uncertainty.
How to Get Your Enduring Powers of Attorney
As Part of Your Estate Plan
Every will-based and trust-based estate plan includes both Property and Personal Care & Welfare EPAs. They're coordinated with your will, advance health care directive, and other documents.
Included in your estate plan
Learn About Estate Plans →Standalone via DYOdocs
Create your EPAs online using DYOdocs with step-by-step guidance. Legal advice and witnessing by our team is still required and can be arranged separately.
Not sure what documents you need?
Use DYOdocs to create a free report on the documents you should have.
Part of Your Estate Plan
Advance Health Care Directives
Record your wishes about medical treatment and end-of-life care.
Funeral Directives
Your wishes for burial, cremation, and your farewell service.
Will-Based Estate Plans
A coordinated plan including all your estate planning documents.
Trust-Based Estate Plans
Extra protection for your home, business, and family through a trust.