What our community says: Why Glen chose his trusted niece as his EPA attorney
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Glen trusts his 23-year-old niece Tamara with his life, which is why he appointed her as his attorney for his enduring power of attorney (EPA).
“She’s lived most of her life with me,” Glen explained.
“Tamara is 23 now and she’s very sensible. She knows me and it just made sense. I trust her with my life, and she was just the right fit and it felt right.”
Glen, retired and now living alone in the Bay of Plenty region, updated his will at Public Trust earlier this year. He then created his EPA for property and financial affairs.
“Creating my EPA was part of getting everything sorted, so that down the line it would make life easier for my family. It was just something I needed to do.”
EPAs are legal documents that help ensure your wellbeing, property and finances will be taken care of by people you trust, should you lose mental capacity and are not able to manage these things yourself.
Glen, who is in his 70s, feels “relaxed” knowing he’s got plans in place and he’s nominated someone he really trusts.
A huge motivator for Glen to get his EPA was knowing that he was making things easier for his relatives, should he become incapable of looking after his finances himself, or if he preferred his niece took over managing them.
“I know I’ve done as much as I can do to make life easier when I’m no longer here – and before that too,” Glen explains.
There are two types of EPAs, one for personal care and welfare and one for property and finances. Glen has got his property and financial EPA, and he’s got the wheels moving for his personal care and welfare EPA too.
Discussions around his will and EPA has also inspired family members to put some planning in place.
“I spoke to my older sister and she has her will sorted. I mentioned to her I had done my EPA, which she didn’t know about, and she was going to be talking to her daughters about that too.”
Another family member is also going to update their will now too, after conversations with Glen.
Glen’s message to others is simple: “Look at where you are now and what could happen, and what can happen if you don’t have an EPA. It takes a little bit of time, sure, but down the line it’s worth it. To me, it’s a no-brainer to have an EPA.”
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