{"id":48524,"date":"2020-04-23T13:54:46","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T17:54:46","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-04-23T14:49:07","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T14:49:07","slug":"interactive-guided-pathways-making-and-revoking-powers-attorney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleo.on.ca\/en\/whats-new\/interactive-guided-pathways-making-and-revoking-powers-attorney","title":{"rendered":"Interactive Guided Pathways for making and revoking powers of attorney"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto, ON<\/strong> \u2013 People in Ontario have new, interactive tools for making and cancelling (revoking) powers of attorney (POAs). The tools \u2014 called Guided Pathways<\/strong> \u2014 are available as interest in POAs surges in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

You use a POA for property to appoint people to look after your property either when you are not mentally capable or when you are still capable and just want help managing your money and bills. You use a POA for personal care to have someone make personal care decisions for you, including health care decisions, when you are alive but not capable.<\/p>\n

“In our current environment, CLEO is seeing a huge demand for information about new programs and laws, as well as existing ones. People are trying to understand how to access benefits, how to stay in their home, and what documents need to be in place if they get really ill,” says CLEO Executive Director Julie Mathews. “Many people are now realizing that they need or want POAs \u2013 and quickly.”<\/p>\n

CLEO’s Guided Pathways for POAs<\/a> take users through a series of questions, one-by-one, explained in plain language, and then use the answers to automatically create a power of attorney. Along the way, users are given clear legal information about assessing the risks involved, as well as mental capacity issues. At the end, users are given instructions on steps to take to have their POA signed and witnessed. The Guided Pathways are free to use.<\/p>\n

In Ontario, there are two types of POA \u2013 one governs property and finances, and the other personal care. The property POA lets you name a person who will manage your money and assets. In situations where you are mentally incapable because of illness, be it COVID-19 or otherwise, this person can file your taxes and pay bills, including life insurance premiums, which could lapse because of a late payment.<\/p>\n

The personal care POA lets you name a person who will make decisions for you, if you are not capable, about any health care, including any treatments you may need right up to your end of life. Preparing a POA lets you choose the person or persons that you trust and think best able to make what can be difficult decisions about your health care and other personal care decisions, particularly when you are seriously ill or at end of life.<\/p>\n

Where to find the Guided Pathways<\/strong>
\nThe Guided Pathways can be found on CLEO’s Steps to Justice and Justice pas-\u00e0-pas websites. Stepstojustice.ca<\/a. and Justicepasapas.ca<\/a> give reliable, practical information on common legal problems to people in Ontario.<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong>
\nAbout CLEO<\/strong>
\nCLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario\/\u00c9ducation juridique communautaire Ontario) is a non-profit community legal clinic. For over 45 years, CLEO has produced clear, reliable legal information for those who experience barriers to accessing the justice system. Visit cleo.on.ca<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

About Steps to Justice and Justice pas-\u00e0-pas<\/strong>
\nSteps to Justice and Justice pas-\u00e0-pas are websites that provide people in Ontario with reliable legal information on a wide variety of legal topics. Led by CLEO, the websites are collaborative projects of leading justice sector organizations in the province. Visit stepstojustice.ca<\/a> and justicepasapas.ca<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Forms that can be completed using Guided Pathways:<\/strong><\/p>\n