A Personal Directive is a legal document where an adult may appoint another adult (the “agent”) in writing to make personal decisions for him or her at a future time when the adult, making the Personal Directive, loses the capacity to make them.
A Personal Directive is similar to a guardianship order under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act. However, the requirements to obtain each differ, and each may not be appropriate in all circumstances.
For more information, please refer to the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship section of our website.
An agent can be:
For additional information on being an agent, please contact our trusted Wills and Estate lawyers at the Edmonton Law Office.
A Personal Directive only deals with non-financial personal matters. The following are some of the personal matters listed under section 1(1) of the Personal Directives Act:
A Personal Directive comes into force when the adult lacks the mental capacity to make personal decisions on the matters listed in the Personal Directive. Unlike the enduring power of attorney, Personal Directives cannot come into force at the time of signing the document.
Under the Personal Directives Act, for a Personal Directive to be valid:
Under the Personal Directives Act, capacity means the ability to understand the information that is relevant to the making of a personal decision and the ability to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of the decision.
A Personal Directive comes into force when the adult lacks capacity and the designated person(s) signs a declaration of incapacity.
The designated persons are named in the Personal Directive. A designated person is someone who can determine the capacity of the adult. In most cases, designated persons are agents and the adult’s physician.
To determine capacity, the designated person(s) must first consult with a physician or psychologist and then make the declaration in writing.
For further information on incapacity declaration or requirements of designated persons, please contact the estate planning lawyers at the Edmonton Law Office.
Section 10 of the Personal Directives Act provides that a Personal Directive ceases to have effect when:
Under the Personal Directives Act, a Personal Directive may be revoked in the following ways:
It is important to remember that, except when the adult destroys the original Personal Directive, any revocation must be in writing, signed and dated by the adult.
Unless specifically excluded by the Personal Directive, an agent’s authority extends to all personal matters.
To know more about limiting or extending an agent’s, contact your local and trusted Estate planning attorney at the Edmonton Law Office.
An Agent must:
Disclaimer: All the information provided on this page is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Edmonton Law Office does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Laws are constantly changing. The content contained in this article is only relevant at the time of writing. For more information, please contact the Edmonton Law Office and our knowledgeable Wills & Estate lawyers will be happy to assist you.