Have you got a Power of Attorney?

Have you got a Power of Attorney?

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is potentially a very important document. It enables you to give a legal authority to look after your affairs when you no longer can.

“One in three over-65s die with dementia”

It can give you great peace of mind knowing that someone can manage your financial affairs and pay important bills, and make decisions on your behalf.

If you lose mental capacity and do not have a LPA someone would need to apply to court to be appointed as a Deputy. This is a long and expensive process and best avoided.

There are two types of LPA. One to look after your Financial and Property affairs and the other your Health and Welfare.

You can choose whether a LPA comes into force immediately after you have signed it, or when you have lost mental capacity. You can appoint family members and/or trusted friends and specify how they should work together to make decisions on your behalf.

The important thing to remember is that you cannot create a LPA when you have lost mental capacity. Therefore it is always best to have one in place just in case. If you are interested in making a LPA please contact one of our specialist lawyers and they will be happy to talk through the process with you.