Personal Lasting
Power of Attorneys

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that grants someone you trust the authority to make decisions on your behalf, either in financial matters or health care, while you are still alive but need support or are unable to make those decisions yourself.

Having an LPA in place provides peace of mind that your affairs and welfare can be managed according to your wishes if you're unable to do so yourself. It helps prevent financial complications and ensures your healthcare preferences are respected, reducing the burden on family members during difficult times.

There are two types of LPA in England and Wales:

• Health and Welfare LPA: This allows your attorney to make decisions about your daily routine, medical care, moving into a care home, and life-sustaining treatment.

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA: This enables your attorney to manage your bank or building society accounts, pay bills, collect your pension or benefits, and sell your home, if necessary.

To set up a Lasting Power of Attorney it is important that you consider seeking professional advice to ensure that the document accurately reflects your wishes and is legally binding.

Key considerations for your LPA are:

• Step 1 - choose your attorney(s) / reserve attorney(s). Select a person or people you trust to make decisions on your behalf.

• Step 2 - consider if you wish your chosen attorney(s) to have the power on accepting, or refusing, life sustaining treatment.

• Step 3 - so that the signed document becomes valid we will register your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), who will charge a fee for this service.

Complete the contact form on our website and we will get back to you.

A Property and Financial Power of Attorney is a specific type of POA that grants someone authority to handle your financial affairs, such as managing bank accounts, paying bills, and making investment decisions. It differs from a healthcare POA, which only covers medical decisions, and a general POA, which can encompass financial decisions depending on its terms.

Yes, you can update your Will as your circumstances change as long as you have mental capacity.

It's advisable to review it regularly, especially after major life events like divorce, the birth of a child, or significant changes in assets, to ensure it continues to reflect your current wishes. And if you get married your Will is automatically revoked unless you have the correct 'do not revoke clause' stipulated within it.

Updating your Lasting Power of Attorney(s) is possible as long as you still have mental capacity, however as Attorney(s) can only be removed and not added it is important to ensure these important documents get completed correctly first time round.

If your circumstances or choices change, Lasting Powers of Attorneys(s) can be revoked completely and new ones put in place as long as you still have mental capacity and are happy to pay the current court cost applicable at the time of reapplying. For more information or assistance, complete our contact form. We can provide personalised advice, help you understand your options, and ensure that your documents are correctly drafted and legally valid.

For more information or assistance, complete our contact form. We can provide personalised advice, help you understand your options, and ensure that your documents are correctly drafted and legally valid.