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Powers of Attorney Lawyer Melbourne

Appoint the Right People to Make the Right Decisions – When You Can’t

Legal Authority You Can Trust in Times of Uncertainty

A Power of Attorney is a powerful legal tool. It allows someone you trust to make crucial decisions on your behalf if you become sick, injured, overseas, or otherwise unable to act for yourself. Whether financial, personal, or medical, this authority must be structured with precision – because your peace of mind, assets and well-being depend on it

At Kelly & Chapman Lawyers

we’ve helped clients across Melbourne’s southeast create, update and revoke Powers of Attorney for over five decades. We ensure your documents are legally valid, clearly worded, and reflect your wishes without ambiguity or risk.

Powers of Attorney

Essential for seniors, those with health risks, overseas travellers, or people planning to travel.

It is a legal document authorising another person to act on your behalf in financial, medical or lifestyle matters.

May be resolved through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court proceedings in VCAT, Magistrates’, County or Supreme Courts.

 Comes in various forms, including General Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney (for financial or personal matters), and Medical Treatment Decision Maker.

Can prevent delays, confusion and conflict during emergencies or incapacity

Why Choose Our Power of Attorney Lawyers

At Kelly & Chapman, we understand how sensitive these decisions can be. We provide clear advice, draft airtight documents, and ensure you know every step – no jargon, no confusion.

We provide:

  • Personalised legal advice based on your circumstances
  • Enduring and medical powers of attorney compliant with Victorian law
  • Help choosing suitable attorneys and setting clear limits on authority
  • Execution with correct witnessing, formalities and certificates
  • Safe document storage and ongoing updates if needed

When You Need a Power of Attorney

1. You’re Planning for the Future

Health can change. Life can surprise us. Creating a Power of Attorney ensures that your bills are paid, your decisions respected, and your medical care managed – even if you lose capacity.

We help you prepare now to protect your future.

2. You’re Travelling or Moving Overseas

If you’ll be outside Australia and need someone to handle your affairs, such as banking, contracts, and property settlements, a General Power of Attorney gives temporary, secure authority.

We ensure it’s correctly timed and limited for your protection.lly.

3. You’re Caring for an Elderly Parent or Relative

Many families act too late. By the time someone loses capacity, it’s often too late to make a Power of Attorney, and VCAT may need to appoint a guardian or administrator.

We help your loved ones stay in control by acting early.

4. You Want to Control Who Makes Medical Decisions

By appointing a Medical Treatment Decision Maker, you nominate the person who will speak for you on care, treatment and end-of-life choices – if you can’t speak for yourself.

We help you align this appointment with your values and care plans.

5. You’re Updating Wills, Estates or Legal Documents

A Power of Attorney complements your Will. It ensures continuity and legal authority during your lifetime, while your Will takes effect after death.

We draft both to ensure complete alignment of wishes and legal protection.

Our Powers of Attorney Process

Consultation

We discuss your goals, health status, concerns and potential attorneys. We advise on legal types of authority and their suitability

Drafting the Documents

We prepare clear, legally sound documents tailored to your needs, including:
• Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial/Personal)
• Medical Treatment Decision Maker appointment
• General Power of Attorney (time-limited)

Signing and Witnessing

We oversee the execution, ensuring the correct witnesses are present and the statutory certificate is signed. This is essential for enforceability.

Storage and Copies

We provide certified copies and recommend safe storage. We can also hold the original securely at our office if you wish.

Future Support

Do you need to update, revoke, or activate the document? We assist at any stage, with clarity and legal certainty.

Why Choose Our Litigation Lawyers

Disputes are stressful — we make them manageable. Our litigation lawyers offer:

Over 50 years of courtroomand negotiation experience

Convenient Bentleigh office with free parking


Multilingual service in Greek, Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian

Trusted by generations of Melbourne families

Clear, respectful guidance in sensitive family situations

We’ve helped thousands of Victorians protect their dignity, choices, and financial future.

Types of Powers of Attorney We Draft

Enduring Power of Attorney (Financial & Personal)
Grants ongoing decision-making power, even if you lose mental capacity.

Medical Treatment Decision Maker
Legally appoints someone to make medical decisions if you’re unable to.

General Power of Attorney
Gives specific, short-term authority (e.g. while overseas) and ends if you lose capacity.

Support Person Appointment (optional)
Enables someone to access information and assist you (but not make decisions).

We ensure that your documents are clear, enforceable, and accurately reflect your intentions.

What Our Clients Say

 

  • Title: A Seamless and Stress-Free home buying experience with Kelly & Chapman I recently had the pleasure of working with Susan Gale-Phillips from Kelly & Chapman for the purchase of our property, and I am compelled to share the exceptional experience I had with their services. From the outset, Susan displayed a profound understanding of the intricacies of property transactions. Her expertise and attention to detail were evident as she navigated the complexities of the legal aspects involved in our property transaction. Communication was a standout feature throughout the process. She ensured that I was kept well-informed at every stage, providing timely updates and clarifications whenever necessary. This transparent and proactive approach alleviated much of the stress typically associated with property transactions, and I always felt confident that my interests were being prioritized. One of the most impressive aspects of Susan's service was her responsiveness. Emails and phone calls were promptly returned, and she was readily available to address any concerns or queries I had. This level of accessibility and dedication to client satisfaction set a high standard for professionalism. In conclusion, my experience with Susan (and Kelly & Chapman) was nothing short of outstanding. Their professionalism, expertise, and unwavering dedication to client satisfaction made the entire process seamless and stress-free. I wholeheartedly recommend Susan to anyone in need of a reliable and proficient solicitor/conveyancer for their property transactions. In fact, I have already done so to a friend, and he has benefited from her expertise. Thanks to their efforts, I am now happily settled in my new home, and I am grateful for the excellent service they provided.

    Rami Avatar Rami
    January 9, 2024
  • The work completed on transferring an old title was first rate. Thank you Laiany Pinto.

    John Trotter Avatar John Trotter
    October 7, 2025
  • Working with Susan has been an exceptional experience. She stands out as the most proactive and organised conveyancer I've encountered till date, whose efficiency has notably simplified the process. Additionally, I'm deeply grateful for her constant eagerness and positive approach, which have significantly enhanced our interactions.

    Nishant Bathani Avatar Nishant Bathani
    November 14, 2023
  • We have just finished using the incomparable Susan Gale-Phillips in a conveyancing matter and could not recommend her more highly. The matter was complicated, involving a buyer's advocate and a company/trust structure, issues with which we have no experience. Susan was across absolutely all of the legal and administrative matters. Moreover, her communication, both in writing and on the phone, was clear, detailed and very timely. The matter settled today without a hitch and we are so grateful that we decided to use Kelly & Chapman, and Susan in particular. Thank you so much!!

    Ben Harris Avatar Ben Harris
    April 28, 2025
  • We recently settled on our apartment in Bentleigh and used Laiany's services for the conveyancing. The service was fantastic and she kept us updated the whole way through. She was also available for any of our queries and responded in a very timely manner. We have used other firms previously for conveyancing and the difference between them and Laiany from Kelly & Chapman was chalk and cheese. We don't plan to be moving again anytime soon, but if we were, we will be using Kelly & Chapman Lawyers.

    Chris Clark Avatar Chris Clark
    May 10, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Powers of Attorney

 

What’s the difference between a Will and a Power of Attorney?
A Will takes effect after death. A Power of Attorney applies during life, when you’re unable to act or want someone else to act on your behalf.
Can I appoint more than one attorney?
Yes. You can appoint multiple attorneys to act jointly or separately, depending on your preferences.
What happens if I lose capacity without a Power of Attorney?
A family member or friend must apply to VCAT for legal authority, a slower, more expensive, and less personal process.
Can I change my Power of Attorney at a later time?
Yes. As long as you have decision-making capacity, you can revoke or update your document at any time.
Does it need to be registered?
No registration is required in Victoria; however, correct witnessing and execution are essential for the document to be valid and accepted.

Ready to Talk?

It starts with a conversation. No pressure. Just a chance to meet, listen and plan the next step together.