Although there are many ways people may lose decision making capacity, dementia is the most common – being the second leading cause of death of Australians. In 2021, there are an estimated 472,000 Australians living with dementia – around 1 in every 10 people over 65.
It can be an extremely stressful and overwhelming experience – not only for the person starting to develop dementia, but also for those around them as they see significant changes in their loved one.
Of course, getting emotional support is critical, but it is also extremely important to consider the financial and legal implications of the loss of capacity in a partner. Whilst an intellectual disability diagnosis, such as dementia may not necessarily preclude preparing Enduring Powers of Attorney, it is important to consider the financial effect of your individual circumstances if one is not prepared.
Some things to think about include:
- Are your bank accounts joint, or are there accounts held in your partner’s sole name? If accounts are in joint names between yourself and your partner, you will be able to continue to use them. However, if your partner holds accounts in his/her sole name, you should not be accessing these funds – which may cause issues if you rely on these funds being available for you.
- How is your house owned? Unlike a bank account, if you and your partner are both on a land title, you will not be able to refinance or sell the property without both signatures. If your partner has lost capacity, they then cannot sign legal documents (such as a sale of land, or refinance documents).
- Whose name is on your telephone account, internet account, gas / electricity (etc.)? If any services are in your partner’s name, you may find it difficult to renegotiate contracts, or change service providers.
- Does your partner have any interest in a private trust, company, or self-managed superannuation fund? If so, what is likely to happen to the control of the entity if they do not have the capacity to act as a director or trustee?
- Do you need to be able to make decisions on your partner’s behalf – for example, medical decisions for refusal of particular medical treatment or engagement of care services?
- Is your partner’s Will up to date – that is, does it achieve what they would currently want to achieve upon their death? In early stages, a person with dementia may still have enough capacity to update their Will, but after a certain point they will no longer be able to make changes.
Of course, it is not always possible to know in ‘early stages’ if someone is going to lose capacity – for example, a brain injury resulting from a motorcycle or car accident comes on suddenly and has immediate results. It is a good idea for everyone to consider an Enduring Power of Attorney at every stage of life.
If your partner has lost capacity and there is no Enduring Power of Attorney, an alternative is to make an application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for the appointment of an Administrator (for financial decisions) and/or Guardian (for lifestyle decisions).
Contact our Wills and Estates legal team today on +61 3 9822 8588 or email HERE to find out how we can help you.
