An LPA is a legal document and a deed*, which allows a person who is at least 21 years of age ('Donor'), to voluntarily appoint one or more persons ('Donee(s)') to make decisions and act on his/her behalf if he/she loses mental capacity one day. A Donee can be appointed to act in the two broad areas of personal welfare and/or property & affairs matters. The LPA also gives the authority to the Donee to sign deeds on the Donor's behalf.

*Examples of deeds include:

1. An instrument used to appoint another individual to act on your behalf

2. An instrument used to transfer an interest in immovable property (in the case of an LPA, Donee(s) may be able to do so on behalf of the Donor if they are granted property & affairs powers as defined in the LPA)