Lasting Power of Attorney There may come a time when, because you are incapable of
managing your property and financial affairs or personal welfare, you will need
someone to do this for you.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to give the
people you trust the power to make decisions on your behalf in the event that
you become physically or mentally incapable of doing so.
The LPA is a legal document that you make in
order to appoint someone you trust, such as a friend, relative or a
professional person, to be your attorney. The Lasting Power of Attorney can be
drawn up at any time whilst you have the mental capacity to do so. It can only
be used after it has been registered at the Office of the Public Guardian.
There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney – Lasting
Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs and a Lasting Power of
Attorney for Personal Welfare. The LPA for Property and Financial Affairs
allows your attorney to make day to day decisions in respect of your money and
property. The LPA for Health and Welfare allows your attorney to make important
decisions in connection with the your day to day care and whether to consent
or refuse medical examination or treatment on the your behalf.
We can help you understand what an LPA means for you and
ensure that it is properly registered so that there won’t be any doubt about
who has your authority to make decisions for you if the time comes.
Court of Protection Application Alternatively, if a member of your family or a partner loses
mental capacity and there is no registered Lasting Power of Attorney or valid
Enduring Power of Attorney in place, then this can be an extremely distressing
time. We can help you with the steps you need to take to make an application to
the Court of Protection to appoint a Deputy to manage your loved one’s affairs.
Please contact a member of our team for
assistance.
