Bright Law
300 - 171 Water Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1A7
(604) 207-5542
A Power of Attorney is a legal document you can use to give someone you trust the authority to carry out financial and legal transactions for you (to “stand in your shoes”). Types of transactions might include paying your bills, cashing your cheques, starting a small claims court action or making other legal or financial decisions. 

This is a very powerful authority you are giving to someone else – a general power of attorney has been called a “license to steal.”   Attorneys have legal duties to act in good faith, within the law, in your ‘best interest. They are required to take an ‘inventory,’ maintain proper records, and provide an accounting when required.  So choose someone you trust implicitly, and also someone who is good at record keeping (so if you have the choice of two children, choose the trustworthy ‘nerd’ with good record keeping, not the lovable ‘klutz’ whose documents are a mess).  If you don’t have someone suitable to be your attorney, you can name your financial institution as your attorney (check with them first) or the Public Guardian and Trustee (again check with them first).

These days older adults make an Enduring Power of Attorney as part of advance planning – so they can name someone who will look after their financial and legal matters should they become incapacitated by accident or disease in the future (the power ‘endures’ past any incapacity). 

We ask that you complete this questionnaire as thoroughly as possible before we meet because it will provide us with essential information to prepare your document. Please call us if you have any questions about completing this questionnaire.

NOTE - Your attorney has to be available to sign an Enduring Power of Attorney before it takes effect.

NOTE - For your protection, there are certain people you cannot appoint as your attorney. This includes:
* anyone who provides personal care or health care services to you for compensation, OR
* anyone who is an employee of the facility in which you live and through which you receive personal care or health care services, unless that individual is your child, parent or spouse.

Privacy Policy
All information received from a client is strictly confidential. Our firm takes every step possible to protect your privacy. The data submitted via this form is encrypted and secured using industry-standard 128-bit SSL encryption.

Your personal information will only be used in the event that you hire the firm to represent you in your legal matter, and then only when necessary in limited use during the course of your case.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our law office. We look forward to working with you!

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Consider who you want to be your attorney or joint attorneys. 

[NOTE - joint attorneys are optional and are not recommended – an alternate attorney can be a good idea]  
For each person, please list the following:

If your main attorney is unwilling to act, dies or is for any other reason unable to act, do you want to name one or more alternate attorneys?

If your main attorney is unwilling to act, dies or is for any other reason unable to act, do you want to name one or more alternate attorneys?

A general Power of Attorney usually gives the attorney full power to do anything you can do by an attorney (to “stand in your shoes” - virtually all financial and legal matters other than writing a last will for you or changing one you already have).   Specific clauses may be included to either expand or to limit the power being conferred.  If specific powers are spelled out, then the Power of Attorney can and will be construed to be limited to the precise powers detailed in the clause, unless the document says otherwise. 

Most banks have their own Power of Attorney form that they prefer to use – you should check with your bank – be aware thought that signing the bank’s form may inadvertently cancel any other power of attorney you already have.

You can specify that your attorney may make gifts or loans, or charitable gifts, including a gift or loan to the attorney themselves, provided the total of all gifts and loans in any one year is no more than $5000.00.  Do you wish your attorney to be able to use your assets for gifts or loans to:

An attorney is not paid for their work as your attorney, unless you specifically permit your attorney to pay themselves out of your money for the work they do as your attorney. This is known as compensation.  You must specify in the power of attorney that your attorney will be permitted to pay themselves compensation, and you must set out the amount or rate (e.g. – pay by the hour/ % of $ involved) of compensation.

Your attorney is always free to retain others to assist them when necessary. Normally however, your attorney cannot delegate any part of their power to someone else, with the exception of delegating authority in investment matters to a qualified investment specialist or mutual fund manager.    If you do want your attorney to be able to delegate any other authority you must specifically say so.

NOTE – your attorney(s) do(es) not have authority to act as your attorney(s) until they sign the Power of Attorney with their signature(s) witnessed. Either two witnesses, or one witness if that witness is a lawyer or notary public.

Thank you so much for completing this intake questionnaire. This information will be extremely helpful in evaluating your case. We will contact you as soon as possible with any updates.

Please click the SUBMIT button below when you have finished answering all questions.