Lasting Powers of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document which everyone should have. Whilst a Will takes care of your affairs in the event of your death, a Lasting Power of Attorney takes care of your affairs during your lifetime when you require additional help, or when you are no longer able to make them yourself. The Lasting Power of Attorney enables you to choose people to assist you in these circumstances and these people are called your Attorneys.

There are two different types of LPA, one for Property and Financial Affairs and one for Health and Care Decisions:

Property & Financial Affairs: This LPA allows your attorneys to assist you with your bank accounts, paying bills and renting or selling property. Your attorneys can assist you with these matters with your consent while you have capacity, or on your behalf if you no longer have capacity.

Health & Care Decisions: This LPA allows your attorneys to make decisions about your health and care. It includes what you eat, what you wear and where you live. You can even instruct your attorneys to make decisions about end of life care. This LPA cannot be used unless you have lost metal capacity and are no longer able to make decisions about yourself.

Lasting Powers of Attorney are legal documents, they are to be used during your lifetime and they end on your death. Both types of LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they are able to be used. You must have capacity to be able to create a Lasting Power of Attorney and you are also able to cancel your LPA after it has been registered as long as you have the capacity to do so.