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Lasting Power of Attorney

A planning tool letting you choose in advance who will manage your affairs when you can no longer do so yourself.

Young hands gently holding the hands of an elderly person on a desk with reading glasses, pen and scales of justice — Lasting Power of Attorney, Helen Robinsky Tal Law Office

Overview

The Lasting Power of Attorney, effective since 2017, lets a person — while fully competent — designate in advance who will manage their affairs if they later lose that capacity. The document grants full control over the future — over who decides and how.

Key Benefits

What We Deliver

Personal Choice

You choose who steps into your shoes — not the court.

Tailored Instructions

Every document is individually tailored to family, financial, and medical circumstances.

Guardianship Protection

The court will not appoint a guardian for someone with a lasting power of attorney, absent exceptional circumstances.

Convenient Service

Home visits available, professional drafting, and deposit with the General Custodian.

Three Domains, Complete Control

The power of attorney covers three domains: financial and property matters, health matters, and personal matters. In each, the grantor can issue detailed instructions, narrow or expand authority, and even appoint different people for each domain separately.

Why Is It Preferable to Guardianship?

Until this tool became available, the only way to care for the affairs of someone who had lost decision-making capacity was to petition the court to appoint a guardian. That process is invoked only when the person can no longer care for themselves, and involves extended delays.

The Crucial Difference
In guardianship, the court decides who is appointed and over what scope — the person's wishes are weighed but not decisive. In a lasting power of attorney, the person chooses who will step into their shoes, sets the instructions, and can even appoint a supervisor to ensure their wishes are honored.

The Drafting Process

Drafting a lasting power of attorney requires an attorney certified by the General Custodian. The firm specializes in drafting lasting powers of attorney and guides the grantor from identifying needs and circumstances, through drafting precise instructions that reflect their wishes, to depositing the document. We insist on personal tailoring — no two cases are alike, and no boilerplate fits everyone.

The Three Domains

  • 1Financial and property — account, asset, and business management
  • 2Health — medical decision-making
  • 3Personal — housing, hobbies, and day-to-day decisions

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why is it important?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows a person to decide in advance who will make decisions on their behalf if and when they become unable to decide for themselves — due to illness, accident, or cognitive decline. It saves the family from a complex guardianship process in court, and ensures that your choices are respected even then.
When must one execute a Lasting Power of Attorney?
It must be executed while you are healthy and of full mental capacity. A person already in advanced stages of dementia or mental illness cannot execute one. This is why early execution is critical — not just "when you feel it's time." Recommendation: from age 50 onward, and certainly when symptoms begin.
What areas can the power of attorney cover?
Three areas you can choose — any one, or all: Property (managing accounts, assets, investments, selling an apartment); Medical (medical decisions, choice of hospital, end-of-life decisions); Personal life (where to live, with whom to spend time, what activities).
How much does it cost to execute a Lasting Power of Attorney?
For an individual: 2,500-5,000 NIS plus VAT. For a couple executing together: usually a discount per person. Amounts can reach 4,000-8,000 NIS plus VAT depending on complexity. Note: only lawyers with special certification from the Ministry of Justice are authorized to execute Lasting Powers of Attorney.
What's the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and Guardianship?
Lasting Power of Attorney — you choose in advance who will take responsibility, what they will decide, and what limitations apply. Guardianship — imposed after you've become incapable, by a court, often not matching whom you would have chosen. Lasting Power of Attorney is the respectful and tailored form of planning for the future.
Can a Lasting Power of Attorney be cancelled or modified?
Yes, as long as the grantor retains legal capacity. Cancellation requires a written declaration to the appointed attorney(s) and to the General Custodian. Substantive changes require re-execution of the document. Once the grantor loses capacity — only a court can cancel or modify.

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