How is a general power different from an enduring power?

A general power of attorney under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996 ceases if the donor loses mental capacity. An enduring power under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 continues to operate after loss of capacity, subject to registration with the Decision Support Service.

Does the power need to be signed before a solicitor?

Not for a general power of attorney, but it must be executed properly. For an enduring power, a solicitor statement and medical certificate are required before registration with the Decision Support Service.

Can I limit the attorney’s authority?

Yes. The template lets you grant general or specific powers, set time limits, and impose conditions.

Can I appoint more than one attorney?

Yes. You can appoint multiple attorneys to act jointly (both must act together), jointly and severally (each can act alone), or successively (one takes over if the other is unable).

How do I revoke the power?

You can revoke by written notice to the attorney. Notify any third parties (banks, Revenue, property registries) who may be dealing with the attorney.

Can the attorney pay themselves?

Only if the instrument expressly permits remuneration. Otherwise, the attorney acts voluntarily and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses only.

Can the attorney make a will for me?

No. A power of attorney cannot be used to make or alter a will. Wills must be executed personally under the Succession Act 1965.

What happens if I become incapacitated?

A general power of attorney ends automatically on incapacity. For ongoing protection, consider an enduring power of attorney under the 2015 Act, registered with the Decision Support Service.

LegalIE

General Power of Attorney Template (Ireland)

A general power of attorney lets you appoint another person to act on your behalf in financial or personal matters while you still have capacity. Our free Irish template complies with the Powers of Attorney Act 1996 and is distinct from the enduring power of attorney regime now operating under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

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GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

GRANTOR (DONOR)

FULL NAME	Seán Ó Briain
ADDRESS	45 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, D04 V9C1
PPSN	1234567T
DATE OF BIRTH	12 March 1958

ATTORNEY

FULL NAME	Ciarán O'Sullivan
ADDRESS	8 Limerick Business Park, Limerick, V94 XY12
PPSN	9876543B
RELATIONSHIP	Son

I, Seán Ó Briain of 45 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, D04 V9C1 (PPSN: 1234567T), being of sound mind and full legal capacity, hereby appoint Ciarán O'Sullivan of 8 Limerick Business Park, Limerick, V94 XY12 as my lawful Attorney, with full power and authority to act on my behalf in the following matters:

1. Property Management: to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, surrender, exchange or otherwise deal with any real or personal property belonging to me, and to execute all deeds, transfers and documents necessary for that purpose

2. Financial and Banking Affairs: to open, operate and close bank accounts, make and receive payments, make or sell investments, collect income, pay debts and sign financial instruments on my behalf

Duration: This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect indefinitely unless and until it is revoked by me in writing.

Successor Attorney: If Ciarán O'Sullivan is unable or unwilling to act, I appoint Siobhán Ní Mhurchadha of 22 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4, D04 W6K9 as Successor Attorney with the same powers and authority as the primary Attorney.

Revocation: I reserve the right to revoke this Power of Attorney at any time while I retain legal capacity, by delivering written notice of revocation to the Attorney. No revocation shall be effective against a third party who has acted in reliance on this Power of Attorney without actual notice of its revocation, in accordance with s. 6 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1996.

Declaration: I declare that I understand the nature and effect of this Power of Attorney. I confirm that I have not been subject to any undue influence or duress in its execution. I authorise my Attorney to act as my lawful agent in all matters described herein and to bind me in all such transactions.

EXECUTION DETAILS

SIGNED ON	25 April 2026
WITNESS NAME	Niamh Gallagher
WITNESS ADDRESS	10 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XF01
NOTARISED	No — Witnessed Only

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney on the date set out above.

GRANTOR (DONOR)

Seán Ó Briain

Date: ____________________

WITNESS

Niamh Gallagher

Date: ____________________

What Is a General Power of Attorney?

A general power of attorney (GPOA) is a legal instrument by which one person (the "donor") authorises another person (the "attorney") to act on their behalf. It can be general — covering all or most affairs — or specific, limited to a particular transaction or period.

In Ireland, general powers of attorney are governed by the Powers of Attorney Act 1996. A general power of attorney ceases to be effective if the donor loses mental capacity; for ongoing protection in the event of incapacity, an enduring power of attorney (EPA) must be created under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and registered with the Decision Support Service (DSS).

General powers of attorney are commonly used when the donor is abroad, unwell or unavailable, and needs someone to sign property contracts, operate bank accounts, deal with Revenue, or handle specific business matters. They must be exercised in good faith and in the donor’s best interests.

What's Covered in This Template

The template covers general and specific powers under the Powers of Attorney Act 1996.

Donor Details

Full name, address with Eircode, and PPS number.

Attorney Details

Name, address and capacity of the attorney.

Substitute Attorney (optional)

Back-up attorney if the primary attorney cannot act.

Scope of Authority

General authority or specific powers (e.g. bank accounts, property sale).

Property and Financial Matters

Buying/selling property, operating bank accounts, investments.

Tax Affairs

Dealings with Revenue Commissioners and tax returns.

Business Matters

Running or selling a business on the donor’s behalf.

Legal Proceedings

Commencing or defending proceedings.

Joint or Several Attorneys

Whether multiple attorneys act together or independently.

Duration and Revocation

Start date, end date and revocation procedure.

Witness and Signatures

Execution requirements under the 1996 Act.

Not an Enduring Power

Confirmation that the instrument ceases on loss of capacity.

How to Create a General Power of Attorney

Create a valid general power of attorney under Irish law in minutes.

1
Enter Donor and Attorney Details
Provide full names, addresses with Eircode and PPS numbers.
2
Choose General or Specific Scope
Decide whether to grant general authority or specific, limited powers.
3
Appoint Substitute and Joint Attorneys
Decide whether multiple attorneys act jointly, jointly and severally, or successively.
4
Set Duration and Revocation
State when the power starts, when it ends, and how it can be revoked.
5
Execute Before a Witness
Sign before an independent witness and follow the execution requirements of the 1996 Act.

Legal Considerations in Ireland

General powers of attorney in Ireland are subject to the 1996 Act and sit alongside the modernised capacity regime.

This template is for information only and is not legal advice. For high-value property transactions or where capacity is in doubt, consult an Irish solicitor.

Drafted for Irish law

Powers of Attorney Act 1996

The Powers of Attorney Act 1996 governs general powers of attorney in Ireland. Section 16 permits execution by deed or by a more formal document. A general power of attorney is revoked by the donor’s revocation, death or loss of mental capacity.

Enduring Powers under the 2015 Act

For powers intended to continue after loss of capacity, an enduring power of attorney must be created under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and registered with the Decision Support Service. General powers of attorney under the 1996 Act do not meet this requirement.

Land and Registered Property

Where the attorney is to deal with registered land, the instrument may need to be registered with the Property Registration Authority (now Tailte Éireann) before it can be relied on in a conveyancing transaction. Legal advice is recommended for any property transaction conducted by attorney.

Attorney’s Duties

An attorney owes fiduciary duties to the donor, including to act in good faith, avoid conflicts of interest, keep separate records of transactions, and account to the donor. Breach can give rise to civil liability and, in cases of fraud or theft, criminal liability.

Frequently Asked Questions

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