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TFR-07 Transfers by an Attorney under EPA or by Administration Order (SAT)

Version 4 - 28/02/2023

The information provided in this guide is not intended to amount to legal advice. Professional assistance may be required to determine the most appropriate action to protect your legal rights. Please read our Terms of Use on the Land Titles Registration policy and procedure guides web page. Landgate accepts no responsibility where parties print this guide and seek to rely on information that is out of date.

1. General

An Attorney appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) under the Guardianship Administration Act has all the powers under the Act. Those persons appointed hold that position on trust and must act in the best interest of the Donor/Incapable person. Whilst the Attorney can do anything the Donor may do themselves, they must act in good faith and not deprive the Donor of any assets. Some acts are deemed to be a breach of the fiduciary duty.

Note: An Enduring Power of Attorney is for personal use only and cannot be used in a person’s capacity as Director/Secretary of a Company or where that person is an appointed Executor/Administrator of another’s estate.

Where a person loses capacity prior to the drawing up of an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) or where an EPA is invalid or made void, the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) may appoint one or more Plenary Administrators to manage the estate of the incapable person. An Order may be issued with all of the powers under the Act or limited powers. See ‘Dealings by a Manager or Administrator’ (CAP-02 Incapable Persons) for preparation, supporting evidence and execution of documents.

Independent legal advice should be sought when completing these transaction types. When lodged, the transfer will generally be sent for legal advice within Landgate.

2. Gift of Donor’s Property3

Where the Attorney seeks to transfer the Donor’s property to himself or herself or to a member of the Attorney’s family via a gift or for no monetary consideration, then this is not registerable as it is a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Attorney. However, if the Attorney can provide an order made by the Board or other court order giving effect to the gift, then the transfer may be registered.

This section applies to Transfers seeking to change tenancy.

3Section updated 28/03/2023

3. Transfer of a Donor’s Property to a Single Enduring Attorney

A transfer of the Donor’s property by an Attorney appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney to him/herself or to a member of the Attorney’s family is prohibited because it is in breach of the fiduciary duties of the Attorney. However, the transfer may be registrable if the Attorney provides a statutory declaration advising all of the following:

  • The reason for the transfer, e.g. request or wishes of Donor
  • Demonstrates that the transfer is in the best interests of the Donor
  • Evidence of payment of the consideration to the account of the Donor
  • There is evidence that the Attorney or the family member has paid full market value for the property
  • Annexes a sworn valuation of the property made by an independent valuer.

If the transfer from the Attorney to him/herself has been made under either an Order of the Board (SAT) or of a Court, then this may be registered subject to a copy of the extracted order being lodged with the transfer.

4. Transfer of the Donor’s property to one of two Enduring Attorneys

Where two or more Attorneys have been appointed by a Donor, a transfer of the Donor’s property to one Attorney appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney may be registrable if both Attorneys agree and provided that the Attorneys provide a statutory declaration advising all of the following:

  • The reason for the transfer, e.g. request or wishes of Donor
  • Demonstrates that the transfer is in the best interests of the Donor
  • Evidence of payment of the consideration to the account of the Donor
  • There is evidence that the Attorney has paid full market value for the property
  • Annexes a sworn valuation of the property made by an independent valuer.

Alternatively, an Order of the Board (SAT) or of a Court consenting to the Transfer then this may be registered subject to a copy of the extracted order being lodged with the transfer.

5. Transfer of Represented Person's Property to Appointed Administrator or Family Member2

A transfer of a represented person’s property to the Administrator appointed by the Guardianship and Administration Board to him/herself or a family member related to the Administrator or represented person is prohibited because it is a breach of the fiduciary duties of the Administrator. However, the transfer may be registered if the Administrator provides either:

  • an Order from the Board authorising that particular transfer

or

  • the powers conferred by the order authorise a transfer and the Administrator provides a statutory declaration advising all of the following:
    • The reason for the transfer, e.g. request or wishes of the Donor
    • Demonstrates that the transfer is in the best interests of the Donor
    • Evidence of payment of the consideration to the account of the Donor
    • There is evidence that the Administrator or the family member has paid full market value for the property
    • Annexes a sworn valuation of the property made by an independent valuer.
    • That the incapacity still existed, the incapable person was still alive and the appointment had not been revoked, at the time of signing the instrument.

2Section updated 28/10/2022

6. Transactions involving an incapable person pursuant to a State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) order1

Any transaction lodged in paper or electronically where a party in the transaction is considered an incapable person pursuant to a State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) order. The SAT order and statutory declaration(s) must be uploaded and attached with the document.

1Section added 15/09/2022

7. Also see1

1Section added 15/09/2022