POWERS OF ATTORNEY ACT 1980

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA POWERS OF ATTORNEY ACT 1980 As in force at 1 July 2024 Table of provisions Part I Preliminary 1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1 3 Repeal ............................................................................................. 1 4 Application ....................................................................................... 1 5 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1 Part II Powers of attorney generally 6 Execution of instruments creating or revoking powers .................... 2 6A Recognition of powers under interstate laws ................................... 2 7 Registration ..................................................................................... 3 8 Dealings in land ............................................................................... 4 9 Powers given to secure proprietary interests, &c............................. 4 10 Execution of instruments in pursuance of power ............................. 4 11 Accounts .......................................................................................... 5 12 Proof of instruments creating powers .............................................. 5 Part III Enduring powers of attorney 13 Enduring powers .............................................................................. 6 14 Execution of instrument creating enduring power ............................ 6 15 Enduring powers – powers of Court ................................................ 6 15A Exercise of power ............................................................................ 7 Part IV Revocation of powers of attorney and protections 16 Revocation of general powers ......................................................... 8 17 Revocation of enduring powers ....................................................... 8 18 Effect of guardianship order............................................................. 8 19 Revocation of powers given to secure proprietary interests, &c. ................................................................................................... 9 20 Protection of donee ......................................................................... 9 21 Protection of third parties ............................................................... 10 21A Effect of guardianship .................................................................... 10 Part V Miscellaneous 22 Regulations.................................................................................... 10 -- 1 of 18 -- Powers of Attorney Act 1980 ii 23 Approved forms ............................................................................. 10 24 Registrar-General's directions ....................................................... 11 Schedule 1 Form of acceptance of enduring power of attorney Schedule 2 Witnesses to instruments ENDNOTES -- 2 of 18 -- NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA ____________________ As in force at 1 July 2024 ____________________ POWERS OF ATTORNEY ACT 1980 An Act relating to powers of attorney Part I Preliminary 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Powers of Attorney Act 1980. 2 Commencement This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the Administrator by notice in the Gazette. 3 Repeal The Powers of Attorney Act 1979 is repealed. 4 Application (1) Unless the contrary intention appears, this Act applies only to and in relation to powers created after the commencement of this Act. (2) This Act extends to powers authorizing dealings with land. 5 Definitions In this Act: agent, for a person, means any of the following: (a) a decision maker appointed by the person under the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013; (b) a guardian appointed for the person under the Guardianship of Adults Act 2016; (d) any other person who has lawful authority to manage the person's affairs. approved form means a form approved by the Registrar-General under section 23. -- 3 of 18 -- Part II Powers of attorney generally Powers of Attorney Act 1980 2 Court, means the Local Court. enduring power means a power created by an instrument referred to in section 13. legal incapacity, in relation to a person, means such a state of mental or physical incapacity that he is not capable of managing his affairs. power means power of attorney. prescribed, in relation to fees, means prescribed under the Registration Act 1927. Public Guardian, see section 3 of the Guardianship of Adults Act 2016. Public Trustee, see section 5 of the Public Trustee Act 1979. registered means registered as prescribed. Part II Powers of attorney generally 6 Execution of instruments creating or revoking powers (1) This section does not apply in respect of an instrument creating a power executed by a body corporate as a donor. (2) Subject to this Act and any other law in force in the Territory, an instrument creating or revoking a power shall be signed by or by direction and in the presence of the donor of the power. (3) An instrument creating or revoking a power shall be valid and effectual although not under seal. (4) An instrument creating a power must be executed in the presence of and attested by: (a) if the instrument is signed by the donor – a person mentioned in Schedule 2; or (b) if the instrument is signed by direction of, and in the presence of, the donor – a person mentioned in Schedule 2 and another person. 6A Recognition of powers under interstate laws (1) This section applies to a power regardless of when it is executed. -- 4 of 18 -- Part II Powers of attorney generally Powers of Attorney Act 1980 3 (2) Subsection (3) applies if: (a) the power is executed under the law of a State or another Territory (the interstate general power); and (b) under the law, the interstate general power is revoked if the donor of the power subsequently becomes legally incapable. (3) The interstate general power is taken to be a general power created under this Act to the extent that the powers it gives could validly have been given by a general power created under this Act. (4) Subsection (5) applies if: (a) the power is executed under the law of a State or another Territory (the interstate enduring power); and (b) under the law, the interstate enduring power is not revoked if the donor of the power subsequently becomes legally incapable; and (c) the instrument creating the power is not a recognised interstate document under section 88 of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013. (5) The interstate enduring power is taken to be an enduring power created under this Act to the extent that the powers it gives could validly have been given by an enduring power created under this Act. (6) In this section: general power means a power to which section 16 applies. 7 Registration (1) An instrument creating or revoking a power may be registered. (1A) An instrument creating or revoking a power, including an enduring power, executed in a State or another Territory under the law of the State or Territory may be registered regardless of when it is executed. (2) The fee for registration under subsection (1) is the prescribed fee. -- 5 of 18 -- Part II Powers of attorney generally Powers of Attorney Act 1980 4 8 Dealings in land (1) Subject to this section, a dealing in relation to land (a lease of land for a period of not more than one year excepted) purporting to take effect in pursuance of the exercise of a power shall be of no force or effect unless the instrument creating the power is registered. (2) Subject to any other law in force in the Territory, upon the registration, at any time subsequent to a dealing in relation to land referred to in subsection (1), of the instrument creating the power, the dealing shall take effect as if the instrument creating the power had been registered before the instrument purporting to give effect to the dealing. (4) The fee for registration of a dealing in relation to land is the prescribed fee. 9 Powers given to secure proprietary interests, &c. (1) A power given to secure a proprietary interest of the donee of the power may be given to the person entitled to the interest and the persons deriving title to the interest through him, and those latter persons shall, while they hold the interest, be duly constituted donees of the power for all purposes of the power. (2) Subsection (1) does not affect any right given by the power to appoint substitutes. 10 Execution of instruments in pursuance of power (1) This section applies to and in relation to a power created either before or after the commencement of this Act. (2) Unless the contrary intention appears in the instrument creating the power, the donee of a power may: (a) execute any instrument with his own signature and, where sealing is required, with his own seal; and (b) do any other thing in his own name, by the authority of the donor of the power and any such instrument or thing shall be as effective as if executed or done, as the case may be, by the donor of the power. (3) A donee of a power shall not execute any instrument in accordance with the power unless he executes that instrument in such a way as to show that: (a) he does so for and on behalf of the donor of the power; and -- 6 of 18 -- Part II Powers of attorney generally Powers of Attorney Act 1980 5 (b) if the instrument creating the power is registered at the time of the execution of the instrument first mentioned, the instrument creating the power is registered. 11 Accounts The donee of a power shall keep, and furnish to the donor at the donor's request and expense, a true and accurate record of any transaction entered into by him as donee of the power charging or otherwise disposing of, whether for valuable consideration or otherwise, any of the assets of the donor of the power. 12 Proof of instruments creating powers (1) This section does not affect the application of any other law in force in the Territory in relation to the proof of documents. (2) The contents of an instrument creating or revoking a power may be proved by means of a copy of the instrument which: (a) is a reproduction of the original instrument made with a photographic or other device for reproducing documents in facsimile; and (b) contains the following certificate or certificates signed by the donor of the power or by a legal practitioner: (i) a certificate at the end of the copy to the effect that the copy of the instrument is a true and complete copy of the original instrument; and (ii) if the original instrument consists of 2 or more pages, a certificate at the end of each page of the copy of the instrument to the effect that it is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original instrument. (3) Where a copy of an instrument creating or revoking a power has been made which complies with subsection (2), the contents of the original instrument may also be proved by means of a copy of that copy if the further copy itself complies with that subsection, taking references in it to the original instrument as references to the copy from which the further copy is made. (4) A person shall not sign a certificate under subsection (2)(b) or (3) knowing it to be false. Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units. -- 7 of 18 -- Part III Enduring powers of attorney Powers of Attorney Act 1980 6 Part III Enduring powers of attorney Note for Part III Although a new enduring power of attorney cannot be created in the Territory after the commencement of section 8 of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013, this Part continues to have effect in relation to enduring powers of attorney created in the Territory before that date and to interstate enduring powers recognised under section 6A(4) regardless of when they were created. 13 Enduring powers Subject to this Act, a power created by an instrument which: (aa) was executed before the commencement of section 8 of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013; and (a) expressly evidences an intention on the part of the donor of the power that the power shall continue in effect notwithstanding any subsequent legal incapacity of the donor of the power; and (b) has endorsed thereon or annexed thereto a statement of acceptance in or to the effect of Schedule 1 by the donee of the power; and (c) is registered, may be exercised by the donee of the power notwithstanding any legal incapacity of the donor of the power occurring after the execution of the instrument creating the power. 14 Execution of instrument creating enduring power A person who witnesses an instrument creating an enduring power under section 6(4) must not be a party to the instrument or near relative of the donee of the power. 15 Enduring powers – powers of Court (1) The donee of an enduring power shall not retire without the leave of the Court. (2) The Public Trustee, the Public Guardian, an agent for the donor of an enduring power or any other person who has an interest in any property which may be dealt with by the donee of an enduring power may, at any time after the donor of the enduring power is legally incapacitated, apply to the Court for an order: (a) requiring the donee of the enduring power to file in the Court and serve on the applicant for the order, a copy of the records referred to in section 11; or -- 8 of 18 -- Part III Enduring powers of attorney Powers of Attorney Act 1980 7 (b) requiring records referred to in section 11 to be audited by an auditor appointed by the Court, and requiring a copy of the report of that auditor to be furnished to the Court and the applicant for the order; or (c) revoking or varying the terms of the instrument creating the enduring power in such manner as the Court thinks fit (including by the appointment of a substitute donee of the power); or (d) giving such orders to the donee of the power as the Court thinks fit for the purpose of facilitating a reasonable and workable division of decision making authority between the donee and any agents for the donor of the power. (3) The Court has jurisdiction to make an order sought in an application under this section. (4) The power of the Court under subsection (3) includes the power to appoint the Public Trustee as a substitute donee. (5) An order or grant of leave under this section may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Court thinks fit. (6) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection (2)(c) or (d), the Court must take into account whether the donor of the enduring power has an advance personal plan (as defined in section 3 of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013) and, if so, the terms of the plan (including as to any appointment of a decision maker). 15A Exercise of power (1) If the donor of an enduring power has made an advance care statement (as defined in section 3 of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013), the donee of the power must exercise that power so as to give effect to the statement even if doing so is not in the donor's best interests, unless: (a) the donor, having capacity to do so, states that he or she does not want effect to be given to that statement; or (b) a circumstance mentioned in section 23(1) or (2) of the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013 exists. (2) If the donor of an enduring power has one or more agents, the donee of the power must cooperate with all such persons to enable all of them to properly exercise their powers and perform their duties for the donor. -- 9 of 18 -- Part IV Revocation of powers of attorney and protections Powers of Attorney Act 1980 8 Part IV Revocation of powers of attorney and protections 16 Revocation of general powers Subject to this Part, a power is revoked by: (a) the death of the donor or donee of the power; (b) the legal incapacity of the donor or donee of the power at any time after the execution of the instrument creating the power; (c) the retirement of the donee of the power; (d) the donor or donee of the power's becoming bankrupt, applying to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounding with his creditors or making an assignment of his remuneration for their benefit; or (e) the revocation of the power by the donor of the power. 17 Revocation of enduring powers (1) This section applies to and in relation to enduring powers. (2) Subject to this Part (section 16 excepted), an enduring power is revoked: (a) by the occurrence of any of the events referred to in section 16(a), (c), (d) or (e) in relation to the power; (b) by the legal incapacity of the donee of the power at any time after the execution of the instrument creating the power; or (c) upon the order of the Court under section 15(2)(c) revoking the power coming into operation, whichever is the sooner. 18 Effect of guardianship order Subject to section 19, upon the making of a guardianship order under the Guardianship of Adults Act 2016, a power is revoked to the extent to which it authorizes the donee of the power to deal with property the subject of the guardianship order. -- 10 of 18 -- Part IV Revocation of powers of attorney and protections Powers of Attorney Act 1980 9 19 Revocation of powers given to secure proprietary interests, &c. (1) This section applies to and in relation to powers which are granted to secure a proprietary interest of the donee of the power or the performance of an obligation owed to the donee of the power and are expressed in the instrument creating the power to be irrevocable. (2) While the donee of a power to which this section applies has the proprietary interest referred to in subsection (1) or while the obligation referred to in that subsection remains undischarged, the power: (a) shall not be revoked by the donor without the consent of the donee; (b) is not revoked by the death, legal incapacity or bankruptcy of the donor or, if the donor is a body corporate, by its winding up or dissolution; and (c) is not revoked upon the making of a protection order under the Aged and Infirm Persons' Property Act 1979 unless the Court expressly revokes it. (3) Where the donor of a power is a protected person within the meaning of the Aged and Infirm Persons' Property Act 1979, the Court may revoke or vary the terms of the instrument creating the power in such manner as the Court thinks fit. 20 Protection of donee The donee of a power which has been revoked who acts in pursuance of the power shall not incur any liability by reason of the revocation either to the donor of the power or to any other person: (a) unless the donee of the power has actual notice of the revocation of the power; or (b) if the power has been created by an instrument which has been registered: (i) and the act is an act with respect to a dealing in relation to land (a lease for a period of not more than one year excepted) – unless an instrument revoking the power has been registered; or (ii) in any other case – unless a period of 30 days from the registration of an instrument revoking the power has elapsed. -- 11 of 18 -- Part V Miscellaneous Powers of Attorney Act 1980 10 21 Protection of third parties Where a power has been revoked, a transaction between the donee of the power and another person shall be as valid and effectual, in favour of that latter person, as if the power had not been revoked: (a) unless the latter person has actual notice of the revocation of the power; or (b) if the power has been created by an instrument which has been registered: (i) and the transaction is a dealing in relation to land (a lease for a period of not more than one year excepted) – unless an instrument revoking the power has been registered; or (ii) in any other case – unless a period of 30 days from the registration of an instrument revoking the power has elapsed. 21A Effect of guardianship The appointment of a guardian under the Guardianship of Adults Act 2016 for a person who is the donor of an enduring power of attorney does not revoke that power. Part V Miscellaneous 22 Regulations (1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to this Act. (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations may make provision for or with respect to: (a) the establishment of a register; (c) the practice and procedure to be followed, in relation to the registration of instruments under this Act. 23 Approved forms The Registrar-General may approve forms for use under this Act. -- 12 of 18 -- Part V Miscellaneous Powers of Attorney Act 1980 11 24 Registrar-General's directions (1) The Registrar-General may, by Gazette notice, issue directions relating to the requirements for lodging, registering, witnessing or giving documents under this Act. (2) The notice must specify a place where the directions are available for inspection by the public, without charge, during normal business hours. (3) A person must comply with the directions unless the Registrar- General dispenses with compliance. (4) The Registrar-General must comply with a direction from the Minister concerning the directions. -- 13 of 18 -- Schedule 1 Form of acceptance of enduring power of attorney Powers of Attorney Act 1980 12 Schedule 1 Form of acceptance of enduring power of attorney section 13(b) I, , the donee of the power of attorney created by the instrument on which this acceptance is endorsed/to which this acceptance is annexed*, acknowledge that: (a) the power of attorney is an enduring power; that is, it may, if registered, be exercised by me notwithstanding any legal incapacity, within the meaning of the Powers of Attorney Act 1980, of , the donor of the power of attorney, occurring after the execution of that instrument; and (b) I will, by accepting this power of attorney, be subject to the requirements of Part III of the Powers of Attorney Act 1980. ...........……………..................... (Donee of the power of attorney) * Delete if inapplicable -- 14 of 18 -- Schedule 2 Witnesses to instruments Powers of Attorney Act 1980 13 Schedule 2 Witnesses to instruments section 6(4) Place of execution of instrument Persons who can witness execution The Territory a commissioner for oaths a member of the Legislative Assembly a legal practitioner a person holding office under the Supreme Court Act 1979, Justices of the Peace Act 1991, Local Court Act 2015 or Registration Act 1927 a police officer a person licensed as a conveyancing agent or real estate agent under the Agents Licensing Act 1979 a Notary Public any other person approved by the Registrar-General A State or another Territory any person approved by Registrar- General's directions A place outside Australia any person approved by Registrar- General's directions -- 15 of 18 -- ENDNOTES Powers of Attorney Act 1980 14 ENDNOTES 1 KEY Key to abbreviations amd = amended od = order app = appendix om = omitted bl = by-law pt = Part ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule cl = clause rem = remainder div = Division renum = renumbered exp = expires/expired rep = repealed f = forms s = section Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation lt = long title sub = substituted nc = not commenced 2 LIST OF LEGISLATION Powers of Attorney Act 1980 (Act No. 25, 1980) Assent date 14 March 1980 Commenced 28 January 1983 (Gaz S5, 28 January 1983) Powers of Attorney Amendment Act 1980 (Act No. 11, 1981) Assent date 9 January 1981 Commenced 9 January 1981 Powers of Attorney Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 42, 1988) Assent date 14 September 1988 Commenced 30 June 1989 (s 2, s 2 Adult Guardianship Act 1988 (Act No. 45, 1988) and Gaz G25, 28 June 1989, p 5) Statute Law Revision (Registration of Instruments) Act 1991 (Act No. 12, 1991) Assent date 31 May 1991 Commenced 31 May 1991 Registration (Consequential Amendments) Act 1991 (Act No. 55, 1991) Assent date 26 September 1991 Commenced 1 January 1992 (s 2, s 2 Registration Amendment Act 1991 (Act No. 54, 1991) and Gaz G49, 11 December 1991, p 4) Statute Law Revision Act 1992 (Act No. 46, 1992) Assent date 7 September 1992 Commenced 7 September 1992 Land Title (Consequential Amendments) Act 2000 (Act No. 45, 2000) Assent date 12 September 2000 Commenced 1 December 2000 (s 2, s 2 Land Title Act 2000 (Act No. 2, 2000) and Gaz G38, 27 September 2000, p 2) -- 16 of 18 -- ENDNOTES Powers of Attorney Act 1980 15 Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (Act No. 2, 2008) Assent date 11 March 2008 Commenced 1 May 2008 (Gaz G17, 30 April 2008, p 5) Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 2008 (Act No. 27, 2008) Assent date 17 October 2008 Commenced pt 2, div 3: 1 January 2006; rem: 17 October 2008 (s 2) Justice Legislation Amendment (Penalties) Act 2010 (Act No. 12, 2010) Assent date 20 May 2010 Commenced 1 July 2010 (Gaz G24, 16 June 2010, p 2) Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40, 2010) Assent date 18 November 2010 Commenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations Act 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011, p 4) Advance Personal Planning (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 (Act No. 36, 2013) Assent date 19 December 2013 Commenced pt 3: 5 February 2014 (Gaz G5, 5 February 2014, p 2); rem: 17 March 2014 (Gaz S14, 17 March 2014) Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016) Assent date 6 April 2016 Commenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34, 29 April 2016) Advance Personal Planning Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 13, 2016) Assent date 7 June 2016 Commenced 28 July 2016 (s 2, s 2 Guardianship of Adults Act 2016 (Act No. 15, 2016) and Gaz S74, 27 July 2016, p 1) Guardianship of Adults Act 2016 (Act No. 15, 2016) Assent date 7 June 2016 Commenced 28 July 2016 (Gaz S74, 27 July 2016, p 1) Health Care Decision Making Act 2023 (Act No. 19, 2023) Assent date 17 August 2023 Commenced 1 July 2024 (Gaz G13, 20 June 2024, p 2) 3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 5, 6A, 13, 15, 15A, 18, 19 and 21A and sch 1 and 2. 4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS s 5 amd No. 12, 1991, s 5; No. 55, 1991, s 4; No. 27, 2008, s 12; No. 36, 2013, s 121; No. 15, 2016, s 117; No. 13, 2016, s 35 s 6 amd No. 27, 2008, s 13 -- 17 of 18 -- ENDNOTES Powers of Attorney Act 1980 16 s 6A ins No. 2, 2008, s 15 amd No. 36, 2013, s 122 s 7 amd No. 55, 1991, s 4; No. 45, 2000, s 7; No. 2, 2008, s 16 s 8 amd No. 11, 1981, s 3; No. 12, 1991, s 5; No. 55, 1991, s 4 s 12 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3 pt III note ins No. 36, 2013, s 123 s 13 amd No. 36, 2013, s 124 s 14 sub No. 27, 2008, s 14 s 15 amd No. 36, 2013, s 125; No. 15, 2016, s 117 s 15A ins No. 36, 2013, s 126 amd No. 19, 2023, s 102 s 17 amd No. 8, 2016, s 45 s 18 amd No. 13, 2016, s 35 s 19 amd No. 36, 2013, s 127 s 21A ins No. 42, 1988, s 3 amd No. 15, 2016, s 117 s 22 amd No. 46, 1992, s 13 ss 23 – 24 ins No. 27, 2008, s 15 sch 2 ins No. 27, 2008, s 16 amd No. 40, 2010, s 118; No. 8, 2016, s 45 -- 18 of 18 --