Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
LPAs enable you to appoint someone (called an Attorney) to act on your behalf and to take decisions about your property, financial affairs and welfare if you become mentally incapable.
For many, the prospect of appointing an attorney can be distressing, but there are definite advantages:
- While your family may be able to apply to Court to appoint someone to act for you if you become mentally incapable, this process is expensive, stressful and time consuming.
- An LPA means you choose who should manage your affairs at a critical time.
LPAs are detailed and complex documents. There are serious questions to be addressed, and the consequences of entering into an LPA must be considered in detail. We will explain carefully all of the implications of LPAs, so that they are fully understood by you and your family.
Our Service
We meet you to talk about your family, social network and your financial situation, and work out who is best placed to be your attorneys. You can chose the same people for both types of lasting power or they can be different. As well as choosing people you can trust, it is important that your attorneys have the confidence and skills to deal with matters on your behalf.
We draft all the powers on your behalf and make sure you understand how the lasting powers will work if you lose capacity. We liaise with your attorneys to obtain their signatures on the lasting powers documents and arrange registration of the powers ready for use.
We also certify for the court that you understand the lasting powers of attorney and are making them of your own free will, an important safeguard in the process.
FAQs
Why make a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Most of us want to protect our dignity and independence in later years and to make it easier for those around us. We encourage our clients to plan for future adverse events.
Preparing Lasting Powers of Attorneys to put in place formal legal directions about how your financial affairs, and decisions about your medical and social care are controlled should you lose capacity is an important part of that plan. The people you choose to make decisions are known as ‘attorneys’. You can have one attorney or more. You can also appoint replacement attorneys if your original attorney is no longer able or willing to act.
Don’t wait until a calamity strikes; speak to us now to protect you and your family’s best interests.
What can attorneys do for you?
For Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney, you choose people you trust to make decisions on your behalf about money and financial matters, including:
- opening, closing and using your bank or building society accounts
- claiming, receiving and using your benefits, pensions and allowances
- paying household and other bills
- buying and selling your house and other property
For Health and Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney, you choose people you trust to make decisions on your behalf about things such as:
- giving or refusing consent to particular types of health care, including medical treatment
- you staying in your own home and getting help and support from social services
- whether you move into residential care and finding a good care home
- day-to-day matters such as your diet, dress or daily routine
You must also choose whether your attorneys or your doctors will make decisions if you ever need life-sustaining treatment and you’re not capable of deciding for yourself.
How does our service work?
We meet you to talk about your personal situation, and to discuss with you who is best placed to be your attorneys. You can choose the same people for both types of Lasting Power. As well as choosing people you trust, it is important that your attorneys have the confidence and skills to deal with matters on your behalf.
We draft all the powers on your behalf and make sure you understand how the Lasting Powers will work if you lose capacity. We liaise with your attorneys to obtain their signatures on the Lasting Powers documents and arrange registration of the powers ready for use. We also certify for the Court that you understand the Lasting Powers of Attorney and are making them of your own freewill, an important safeguard in the process.