Substitute Decisions Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c.30

6.  A person is incapable of managing property if the person is not able to understand information that is relevant to making a decision in the management of his or her property, or is not able to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision.

8. (1)  A person is capable of giving a continuing power of attorney if he or she,

  • (a) knows what kind of property he or she has and its approximate value;
  • (b) is aware of obligations owed to his or her dependants;
  • (c) knows that the attorney will be able to do on the person’s behalf anything in respect of property that the person could do if capable, except make a will, subject to the conditions and restrictions set out in the power of attorney;
  • (d) knows that the attorney must account for his or her dealings with the person’s property;
  • (e) knows that he or she may, if capable, revoke the continuing power of attorney;
  • (f) appreciates that unless the attorney manages the property prudently its value may decline; and
  • (g) appreciates the possibility that the attorney could misuse the authority given to him or her.

   (2)  A person is capable of revoking a continuing power of attorney if he or she is capable of giving one.

Execution

10. (1) A continuing power of attorney shall be executed in the presence of two witnesses, each of whom shall sign the power of attorney as witness. 

Persons who shall not be witnesses

     (2)  The following persons shall not be witnesses:

1. The attorney or the attorney’s spouse or partner.
2. The grantor’s spouse or partner.
3. A child of the grantor or a person whom the grantor has demonstrated a settled intention to treat as his or her child.
4. A person whose property is under guardianship or who has a guardian of the person.
5. A person who is less than eighteen years old. 

     (3)  Repealed.

Non-compliance

     (4) A continuing power of attorney that does not comply with subsections (1) and (2) is not effective, but the court may, on any person’s application, declare the continuing power of attorney to be effective if the court is satisfied that it is in the interests of the grantor or his or her dependants to do so.

 

Representation Agreement Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c.405

Test of incapability for standard provisions

8.  (2) In deciding whether an adult is incapable of making a representation agreement….all relevant factors must be considered, for example:

  • (a) whether the adult communicates a desire to have a representative make, help make, or stop making decisions;
  • (b) whether the adult demonstrates choices and preferences and can express feelings of approval or disapproval of others;
  • (c) whether the adult is aware that making the representation agreement or changing or revoking any of the provisions means that the representative may make, or stop making, decisions or choices that affect the adult;
  • (d) whether the adult has a relationship with the representative that is characterized by trust.
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