Yukon brings changes to help residents create ‘enduring’ powers of attorney

Law360 Canada (August 12, 2025, 4:58 PM EDT) -- Yukon has brought into force legislative changes allowing residents to officially designate a power of attorney without having to hire a lawyer.

The territory’s government announced Aug. 11 that amendments to its Enduring Power of Attorney Act have taken hold, giving Yukoners “more options when planning their financial futures.”

“An enduring power of attorney is a legal tool that lets a person choose someone they trust to manage their money and property if they are unable to do it themselves in the future,” states a news release.

These changes allow residents “to draft an enduring power of attorney without hiring a lawyer,” define the obligations of “newly acting attorneys” and establish a requirement that acting attorneys keep financial records.

With this, the government is developing both “user-friendly” templates and user guides, which will be distributed in “an engagement targeted toward seniors, lawyers and other stakeholders” as a way of testing whether they meet the needs of residents.

“Making financial planning more accessible and affordable is an important step toward ensuring that Yukoners’ wishes are respected if they become unable to make decisions on their own,” said Yukon Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee. “They help Yukoners express their wishes without the need to have a lawyer, which can sometimes be a barrier.”

McPhee said the amendments will allow residents “to be proactive” in protecting themselves against financial abuse.

The release notes that enduring power of attorney documents drafted prior to the amendments being made will remain valid.

If you have any information, story ideas or news tips for Law360 Canada, please contact Terry Davidson at t.davidson@lexisnexis.ca or 905-415-5899.