There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA. This allows the persons appointed to make financial decisions on your behalf, such as paying bills, dealing with banks and investments, arranging and collecting benefits, and selling a property.
• Health and Welfare LPA. This allows the persons appointed to make personal decisions on your behalf regarding care issues, including where you live and specifying your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment.

To make an LPA, you must be over the age of 18 and have the mental capacity to make this decision. You should think carefully about who you appoint as your attorney. They must have your best interests at heart and have the skills, time and willingness to help manage your affairs and estate.

Some implications of not having a Lasting Power of Attorney are substantial costs, long delays in decision making and potential loss of control of your estate to a court appointed Deputy. Appointing a Deputy has to be done through the Court of Protection and is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process.

Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney while you are fit and well is a simple and efficient process, and we can help with every step.

A Lasting Power of Attorney isn’t solely for the elderly. Accidents and medical conditions can strike at any time, and the pandemic has also changed the way we view our health. Though it’s not nice to think about, there may be a time when you are suddenly unable to make crucial decisions on your finances and the type of care you receive.

An LPA is an insurance policy to protect you in any of these instances; you hope it will never be needed but if it is, it will provide you and your loved ones invaluable peace of mind.

Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney while you are fit and well means that if you do lose capacity, your chosen attorneys can step in and take over your affairs quickly and easily.