The Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-03-09, Page 11Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, March 9, 1994 - Page 11
II
You
DECIDE
WHO
DE( IDES
SUBSTITUTE
DECISIONS A C T
THE TRUTH ABOUT
THE SUBSTITUTE
DECISIONSACT
AN IMPROVED LAW ABOUT POWERS OF ATTORNEY
GOES INTO EFFECT IN EARLY. 1995.
It's called the Substitute Decisions Act. and •it's designed to give people mor' control over what happens to the-1ii• the
• become mentally incapable.
Recently. people have been asking serious questions about the Substitute 'Decisions .act. When does it Come into effect''
What do I need to know? How.will it affect me".
YOU NEED TO KNOW
THE SUBSTITUTE DECISION ACT IS NOT COMIING INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 11, 1.994.'
The act will pnly become Iawlin.early.1995.
'• YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A POWER OF ATTORNEY IF YOU.DON'T WANT TO. Not now. Not ever.
You don't have to, but there are some good reasons to do so: By. 'Making a power of attorney, you can make sure that
someone' you trust has the legal authority to make•decisions, for you if you become mentally incapable. In other Words,
you decide who decides.
A POWER OF ATTORNEY :IS A LEGAL .DOCUMENT. BUT YOU DON'T NEED A LAWYER TO
CREATE IT A power of attorney navies•the person or persons you have Chosen to make decisions on your behalf. It
defines their responsibilities and clarifies •your wishes. You may wapt to consult a lawyer'for advice, especially if your
finances are complex But you don't have to. In. a few weeks, the Ontario Government' will make tree power of attorney
forms available, along with guidelines on how ,to complete them..
• IF YOU ALREADY HAVE •A POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR YOUR-FiNANCES, YOU DON'T NEED A
NEW ONE. It you havealready made a power of attorney that'.names someone to make financial decisions it you
become incapable, it will still be effective w.henthe Substitute Decisions Act becomes law• The Substitute Decisions Act
expands your control by.allowing you•to choose someone to make decisions about your personal care as well.
• THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN AND TRUSTEE WILL ONLY MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS ON YOUR
BEHALF AS A LAST RESORT. If you' are mentally incapable and if no one else is .willing or able to act -for you. the
' Pu,lic•Guardian and Trustee may be required to act on your behalf.
l
The Substitute Decisions Act was developed through extensive consultations and was passed unanimously by the Ontario
Legislature in. 199?. l
The .idea behind the Substitute. Decisions Act is simple: By crcuting a power of uttorncv for your financial affairs .anda
power of,attorneylfor:your personal care, you can make sure that sogneont of your choosing has the legal authority to act
on your behalf.
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE
If you want to know more about the Substitute Decisions Act or get free power of attorney forms, write to SDA Information,
Office of the Public. Trustee, 145 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario- MSH 2N8.
*('es renseignements sont egalement disponibles en franois.
.Ontario
•