Enduring Power of Attorney

Legal · English ↔ Chinese

1. Solicitor · turn 1

   Good afternoon, Mrs Lu. What can I do for you today? According to the appointment record, you’re here to discuss making a power of attorney, is that right?

   下午好，陸太太。今天有甚麼我可以幫您的？根據預約記錄，您來這裡是要討論辦理授權書的事宜，對嗎？

2. Mrs Lu · turn 2

   沒錯，我來是因為我的母親。她已經83歲了，患阿茲海默症也已經5年了。最近她的病情惡化到幾乎無法料理日常事務的地步，所以我們想趁她還有認知和決策能力的時候辦一份授權書，讓我做她的代理人。

   That's right. I'm here because of my mother. She is already 83 years old and has had Alzheimer's disease for five years. Recently, her condition has deteriorated to the point where she can barely manage her daily affairs, so we want to execute a power of attorney while she still has cognitive and decision-making capacity, appointing me as her attorney.

3. Solicitor · turn 3

   I’m sorry to hear that your mother’s condition has deteriorated. Given her diagnosis, it’s sensible to deal with these matters sooner rather than later. Have you discussed making a power of attorney with her, and does she agree with the idea?

   得知您母親的病情惡化，我感到很遺憾。考慮到她的診斷，儘早處理這些事宜是明智的。您是否已經跟她討論過辦理授權書的事，她贊成這個想法嗎？

4. Mrs Lu · turn 4

   有，我們談過。上次她忘了交電話費，結果電話服務被停了。我怎麼打都聯絡不上她，還以為她出了甚麼事，當時真的把我急壞了。後來她自己也承認，現在確實有必要辦一份授權書，而且她希望委任我做她的受權人，代她處理事務。

   Yes, we have talked about it. Last time she forgot to pay her phone bill, and as a result, the phone service was cut off. No matter how many times I called, I couldn't reach her, and I thought something had happened to her; I was really worried sick at the time. Later she admitted herself that it really is necessary to make a power of attorney now, and she wants to appoint me as her attorney to handle affairs on her behalf.

5. Solicitor · turn 5

   I see. There are two main types you should be aware of: a general power of attorney and an enduring power of attorney. Given your mother’s circumstances, I think an enduring power of attorney would be the more appropriate option.

   我明白了。您應該了解兩種主要的授權書類型：一般授權書和持久授權書。考慮到您母親的情況，我認為持久授權書會是更合適的選擇。

6. Mrs Lu · turn 6

   原來有兩種，我之前完全不知道。其實我希望這份授權從現在開始就可以使用，而且就算將來我母親失去認知和決策能力，我還是可以繼續代表她處理事情，例如交帳單、管理銀行戶口和處理她的財務。

   So there are two types; I had no idea before. Actually, I hope this power of attorney can be used starting from now, and even if my mother loses cognitive and decision-making capacity in the future, I can still continue to act on her behalf to handle matters, such as paying bills, managing bank accounts, and handling her finances.

7. Solicitor · turn 7

   In that case, an enduring power of attorney is what you’re looking for. A general power of attorney will cease to operate if the principal—that is, the person who makes the power of attorney—loses decision-making capacity. Unfortunately, given the progression of your mother’s condition, there is a real possibility that she may lose capacity in the future.

   在這種情況下，持久授權書正是您所需要的。如果授權人——也就是訂立授權書的人——喪失了決策能力，一般授權書就會終止生效。遺憾的是，鑑於您母親病情的發展，她將來確實很有可能會失去能力。

8. Mrs Lu · turn 8

   那如果她真的失去決策能力，一般授權書就完全不能用了，是嗎？

   So if she really does lose decision-making capacity, a general power of attorney can no longer be used at all, is that right?

9. Solicitor · turn 9

   That’s correct. An enduring power of attorney, on the other hand, can continue to operate even after the principal loses capacity. That would allow you, within the authority given to you, to continue managing her financial affairs on her behalf—for example, paying her bills and dealing with her bank accounts.

   沒錯。另一方面，持久授權書即使在授權人失去能力之後，仍然可以繼續生效。這將使您能夠在授予您的權限範圍內，繼續代表她管理財務事務——例如為她支付帳單和處理她的銀行帳戶。

10. Mrs Lu · turn 10

    明白了，那第二種就是我需要的。請問持久授權書要怎麼辦理呢？另外，我需要帶我母親來這裡填申請表嗎？

    Understood, so the second one is what I need. How do we go about arranging an enduring power of attorney? Also, do I need to bring my mother here to fill out an application form?

11. Solicitor · turn 11

    Your mother would need to sign the enduring power of attorney in the presence of an appropriate witness, such as a solicitor like me. Before I witness her signature, I’d need to explain the document and its implications to her and satisfy myself that she understands what she is signing. Given the concerns about her capacity, that step is particularly important. So, yes, it would be a good idea to bring her in.

    您母親需要在合格的見證人（例如像我這樣的律師）面前簽署持久授權書。在見證她簽名之前，我需要向她解釋這份文件及其法律後果，並確認她理解自己所簽署的內容。考慮到對她能力的擔憂，這一步驟尤為重要。所以，是的，帶她來這裡會是個好做法。

12. Mrs Lu · turn 12

    好的，那就麻煩您幫我們擬好這份文件，再見證我母親簽名吧。如果您下星期有時間，我可以預約一下，帶我母親過來。

    All right, then I'll trouble you to draft this document for us and then witness my mother's signature. If you have time next week, I can make an appointment and bring my mother in.

13. Solicitor · turn 13

    We don’t necessarily need to draft the whole document from scratch. There is a prescribed power of attorney form that you can obtain online. You could have your mother complete the relevant details beforehand, or she could complete the form here with my assistance. The latter would incur a professional fee, of course.

    我們不一定需要從頭開始起草整份文件。網上有法定的授權書標準表格可以獲取。您可以讓您母親事先填寫相關細節，或者她也可以在我的協助下在辦公室完成表格。當然，後者會產生專業服務費用。

14. Mrs Lu · turn 14

    如果費用不是太貴的話，那沒問題。畢竟這是一份很重要的法律文件，如果有您在旁邊協助，我想我們比較不容易填錯。萬一自己弄錯了甚麼，到時候再改反而更麻煩。

    As long as the fee isn't too expensive, that won't be a problem. After all, this is a very important legal document; with your assistance by our side, I think we're less likely to fill it in incorrectly. If we get something wrong ourselves, having to rectify it later would be even more troublesome.

15. Solicitor · turn 15

    Certainly. When you bring your mother in, I’ll go through the document with her carefully and make sure she understands the nature and effect of the appointment before she signs anything. One thing to bear in mind, though, is that an enduring power of attorney deals primarily with financial and legal matters. It doesn’t automatically give you authority to make every type of personal or medical decision for her.

    確實如此。當您帶您母親過來時，我會和她仔細逐項核對這份文件，並在簽署前確保她理解該項任命的性質和效力。不過，有一點需要記住的是，持久授權書主要處理財務和法律事務。它並不會自動賦予您為她做出各種個人或醫療決定的權力。

16. Mrs Lu · turn 16

    哦，我還以為有了這份授權書，以後她所有的事情我都可以替她決定。那如果將來她連自己的醫療或者生活安排都沒有辦法決定，那要怎麼辦？

    Oh, I thought that with this power of attorney, I'd be able to make decisions for her on all matters in the future. So what should we do if, down the track, she is unable to make decisions regarding even her medical care or living arrangements?

17. Solicitor · turn 17

    That’s a separate issue. In New South Wales, you may need to consider appointing an enduring guardian for decisions about matters such as healthcare, medical treatment and certain personal or lifestyle arrangements. We can discuss that with your mother at the appointment as well, provided she still has the capacity to make the appointment.

    那是另外一回事了。在新南威爾斯州，對於醫療保健、醫療處置以及某些個人或生活安排等事項的決定，您可能需要考慮委任持久監護人（Enduring Guardian）。只要您母親仍具有做出委任的能力，我們也可以在預約會面時與她討論這件事。

18. Mrs Lu · turn 18

    好，那最好一次跟她解釋清楚。我最擔心的就是等到她完全沒有能力自己作決定的時候，我們才發現有些文件還沒有辦好，那就太遲了。

    Good, then it would be best to explain everything to her all at once. What I worry about most is waiting until she has completely lost the capacity to make decisions on her own, only for us to discover that some documents haven't been sorted out yet—that would be too late.

19. Solicitor · turn 19

    Exactly. It’s better to put the appropriate arrangements in place while she still has capacity. When you book the appointment, let the receptionist know that we’ll need sufficient time to discuss both the enduring power of attorney and, if appropriate, an enduring guardianship appointment.

    完全正確。最好在她仍有能力時做好適當的安排。您預約時，請告知接待人員我們需要足夠的時間來討論持久授權書，以及在適當情況下的持久監護人委任事宜。

20. Mrs Lu · turn 20

    好的，我回去先跟母親再談一次，然後打電話來預約。謝謝您今天解釋得這麼清楚。

    All right, I'll go back and speak with my mother once more first, and then call to book an appointment. Thank you for explaining everything so clearly today.

21. Solicitor · turn 21

    You’re welcome, Mrs Lu. Bring along any relevant identification and the information we’ll need for the documents, and we can take it from there when you come in.

    不客氣，陸太太。請帶上任何相關的身分證明文件以及我們製作文件所需的資料，等您過來時我們就可以著手辦理。

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