This book is only available in PDF format

Authors: Theresa Donnelly, Annette Gray
Published: 9 November 2017
Pages: 43

Introduction

The new EPA forms went live on 16 March 2017, as a result of changes to the Regulations. Love them or hate them, they are here to stay, and you need to use them in ways that best work for you and your clients. A key issue for many practitioners has been the length of the new forms. Much of the length is in new optional clauses, which are intended as a prompt for donors. This practically based session will show you how to safely make changes to the forms, which may substantially shorten them for some clients.

There are a number of reasons why you might want to consider amending the forms. They may be too long for your donors with sufficient but limited capacity. While the Ministry’s “Protect your Future” campaign was intended to change New Zealanders’ behaviours and have them complete EPAs at younger ages, practitioners advise that their donors are still largely older people. Often an EPA is considered only at the time when donors or family think capacity is diminishing. By then it may be too late, or if it is in the nick of time, be more onerous (and thus expensive) to complete. A donor with diminishing capacity may take several appointments for you to run through all the options with them. It is still going to be cheaper than an application to the Court for a Property Manager or Welfare Guardian, but if changes that streamline the forms assist, that is probably a good thing. (Continued...)

Content outline

• Making changes to the forms
• Section by section walk-through
• Successor attorneys
• New standard explanations

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