Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) are legal documents that permit you to appoint trusted people in your life to deal with your financial affairs and health needs. The attorney – the person you appoint – can help you make decisions or make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so yourself.
An attorney or attorneys can be anyone the donor wants if they are over 18 years of age. If you’d like your attorney to look after financial affairs, keep in mind that the person chosen cannot be bankrupt or subject to a debt relief order.
If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you may assume that your spouse will automatically be your attorney if needed, but this is not the case. Without an LPA, they won’t have the authority.
Read on to find out what powers you have as attorney:
LPA comes in two forms, you can register to have Property and Financial Affairs, and for Health and Welfare.
Property and Financial Affairs
LPA for financial affairs can give powers to allow your trusted people to manage your affairs such as:
- buying and selling property on your behalf
- arranging repairs to your property
- renting out property
- paying a mortgage
- looking after bank accounts, bills, savings, or other financial affairs
- claiming and spending welfare benefits on your behalf
- purchasing items needed for the donor
If you are setting up a Property and Financial LPA for yourself, please keep in mind that our solicitors will make sure you or your family will get regular updates about how your financial affairs are being managed. Your attorney must keep their accounts and your accounts separate.
Health and Welfare
LPA for health and welfare powers give an attorney the power to make health and care decisions only after the person has lost mental capacity. An attorney can usually make decisions about:
- day-to-day personal care or health care
- life-saving medical treatment
- deciding where the person lives
- lifestyle decisions, routine, and activities
Please keep in mind that attorneys make decisions in the donor’s best interests and must follow any instruction the donor has included in the LPA.
Please speak to our team about Lasting Powers of Attorney and how they can benefit you and your loved ones. We can help with the decisions and give you advice before and after you start acting as an attorney.
Use our online contact form to get in touch or call your local DMA Law office.
