Lasting Powers of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney lets you choose who would step in to make decisions for you, if there ever came a time you couldn’t make them yourself.
None of us expects to lose the ability to make our own decisions, but illness or an accident can mean it happens. A Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, lets you name people you trust to act for you if that day comes. Putting one in place now means your family won’t have to go to court later just to get the authority to help you.
The two types of LPA
There are two kinds, and you can make one or both.
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA lets your attorneys deal with things like:
- Bank accounts
- Bills and everyday finances
- Your property
- Investments
A Health and Welfare LPA lets them make decisions about things like:
- Medical treatment
- Care arrangements
- Where you live
- Your day-to-day welfare
Why put one in place
Without an LPA, if you lost capacity, your family couldn’t simply step in. They’d usually have to apply to the Court of Protection for the authority to act, which takes time and costs money at what’s already a hard moment. An LPA avoids that. It means the people you’ve chosen can help you straight away, in the way you’d want.
How it works
- We talk through what you want and who you’d like to appoint
- We prepare the documents
- You sign them, properly witnessed
- We register them with the Office of the Public Guardian
An LPA is something you put in place while you’re well, so it’s ready if it’s ever needed. It’s far easier to set up now than to sort out later.
Whatever your situation, whether you’re thinking ahead as you get older and want someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf, or you’re supporting a parent whose health or memory is declining and need the legal authority to help manage their affairs, having the right arrangements in place can provide valuable peace of mind.
Wherever you’re starting from, we’ll explain your options plainly. Give us a call, and we’ll talk it through.
