Take Care Of Your Future With A Lasting Power Of Attorney

Research from the Alzheimer's Society forecasts over a million people will have dementia by 2021, highlighting that getting your affairs in order has never been more important.

As experts in this field, we see many people in a distressing situation where they are unable to make important decisions on behalf of their loved ones and have no alternative but to make an emergency application to the Court of Protection. This can be costly and take a long time, leaving loved ones vulnerable in the meanwhile.

The government is so concerned about the number of people who have not planned for their later years, that it has announced it will be holding a 'life planning day' in 2015.

This is intended to promote awareness about making a will and creating a lasting power of attorney to manage your property, financial affairs, health and welfare if you are unable to.

Choosing your attorney while you are of sound mind ensures you are in control of appointing someone trustworthy to act on your behalf.

While making a will can be straightforward and done quite quickly, the process of appointing an attorney is more complicated and time consuming.  A lasting power of attorney cannot be used until registered and there are no shortcuts to speed up the registration process.

With this in mind, it is a good idea to prepare your lasting power of attorney now before the government's publicity campaign begins. The Office of the Public Guardian, the organisation who registers and oversees lasting powers of attorney, is already very busy.  It currently receives 2,000 registration applications per day, with the average registration application taking 14 weeks to complete. The number of people preparing and registering lasting powers of attorney is set to increase in the next few years, as will the likely time delays.

It is a good idea to put your affairs in order now, ahead of the rush.  Make time today to get your lasting power of attorney by getting advice from one of our specialist wills and probate solicitors.

Published: January 2015

Contact us:

If you would like to know more about creating a lasting power of attorney, contact a member of our wills and probate team on York 01904 716000 or Wetherby 01937 583210.

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