Power of Attorney in Ireland: Types, Uses and How to Set One Up
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that authorises another person — your attorney — to act on your behalf in legal, financial, or personal matters. There are several types of POA in Ireland, each with different scope and duration.
General Power of Attorney
A General Power of Attorney gives your attorney broad authority to manage your affairs — sign contracts, manage bank accounts, deal with property, and conduct legal transactions on your behalf. Critically, a general POA automatically ceases to be valid if you lose mental capacity.
Specific/Limited Power of Attorney
A specific POA authorises your attorney to carry out a defined act — for example, signing a property deed on your behalf when you cannot attend closing. It ceases to have effect once the specific transaction is completed.
Enduring Power of Attorney
An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is designed specifically to remain valid — or come into operation — when you lose mental capacity. Under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, EPAs must be registered with the Decision Support Service (DSS) before they can be used. An EPA is the appropriate document for long-term planning against incapacity. View our EPA drafting service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a power of attorney be revoked in Ireland?
Yes — a general or specific POA can be revoked at any time while you have capacity by executing a deed of revocation. An EPA registered with the DSS can only be revoked while you still have capacity to do so.
Does a power of attorney need to be registered in Ireland?
A general POA does not require registration. An Enduring Power of Attorney must be registered with the Decision Support Service before it can be activated.
Can an attorney sell property on my behalf in Ireland?
Yes — a general POA can authorise property transactions, though the Land Registry may require the POA to be executed as a deed and may require additional formalities depending on the transaction.
This article is for informational purposes only. View our EPA drafting service or speak to a solicitor.
