The Importance Of Having A Power Of Attorney

Powers of attorney are useful if you need someone to make decisions on your behalf.  This may just be temporary (for example, to ensure that bills are paid if you were in hospital) or more long-term (for example, if you have been diagnosed with dementia).

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions for you.  There are two types of LPA, 'Property and Financial Affairs' and 'Health and Welfare', and you can create one or both.  The Property and Financial Affairs LPA allows your chosen attorneys to operate your finances, for example to mange your bank accounts and pay bills.  The attorney can act while they have mental capacity (if you consent) but also if you lose mental capacity.

A LPA for Health & Welfare allows your chosen attorneys to make decisions about your health and welfare if you lacked the mental capacity to make those decisions yourself.  This would include decisions about healthcare and medical treatment, and consenting to and refusing medical examination and treatment on your behalf.  You can also decide to give your attorneys the right to accept or decline life sustaining treatment on your behalf.

How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney

At Ware & Kay Solicitors we are committed to advising on LPAs as simply as possible.  We will talk you through the process and then prepare the paperwork for your approval before supervising the signing process (because strict guidelines have to be followed). We will also deal with registration of your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Published: March 2018

Contact us

To discuss LPAs, or any Wills and Probate matter contact Laura Schofield on 01937 543964 or email laura.schofield@warekay.co.uk.