Who looks after my finances if I become incapable?

If you become an in-patient or out-patient of a psychiatric-wing in a hospital, a doctor must examine you to determine whether you are capable of managing your property. If you are not a patient, a government assessor can be asked to do an assessment, but, before doing so, reasonable inquiries must first be made to determine whether you have a continuing power of attorney that covers all of your property, and whether your spouse, partner or relative intends to apply to the court for guardianship.

If you are incapable and you do not have a power of attorney for property, and if your family won’t apply to the court to be your guardian of property, then the government Public Trustee and Guardian will manage your property.