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Lasting Powers of Attorney

Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”)

What is an LPA?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so. This could be due to illness, injury or old age. It can cover decisions about your finances, property, healthcare and other important aspects of your life.
 
It’s important to plan ahead and consider creating an LPA, so that you can have peace of mind knowing that your affairs will be taken care of if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. Our team of experienced solicitors at Kerseys can guide you through the process of creating and registering an LPA, making sure that your wishes are understood and respected.

How much does an LPA cost?

 

More Information on LPAs

Who can make an LPA?

Anyone who is over the age of 18 and has mental capacity.

What decisions does an LPA cover?

There are 2 types of LPA:

a) Property and Financial Affairs LPA – covers decisions about:

  • Buying and selling your property
  • Running your bank accounts
  • Claiming, receiving and using your benefits, pensions and allowances

b) Health & Welfare LPA – covers decisions about:

  • Staying in your own home
  • Moving into residential housing and choosing the most suitable care home for you
  • Giving or refusing consent to particular types of health care including medical treatment decisions

What are the benefits of an LPA?

  • You can choose the persons (Attorneys) you wish to make decisions for you.
  • You can place restrictions on what your attorneys can and cannot do and give them guidance on making decisions on your behalf.
  • If you have not made an LPA and you lose mental capacity (perhaps through dementia, a stroke or mental health problems), somebody would have to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed to manage your affairs and the applicant might not be the person you would choose to manage your affairs.
  • The application to the Court of Protection is both costly and time consuming.  There will also be ongoing annual costs to pay as well.
  • Even if you have not lost mental capacity but are finding it difficult to deal with your financial affairs through physical incapacity, your attorneys under your Property and Financial Affairs LPA will still be able to assist you e.g. writing cheques, going to the bank for you.

What information do you require for the LPA?

  • You will need to consider who you want your attorneys to be. You can appoint up to 4 attorneys. They can be appointed:
    1. Jointly – all must sign every document
    2. Jointly and Separately – one attorney can sign without the others or
    3. for some matters and Jointly and Separately for other matters.
  • You can appoint a replacement attorney to act if one of your attorneys dies or becomes permanently incapable of acting.
  • Your attorneys can only use your LPA when it has been registered by the Office of the Public Guardian. For your protection, you can choose up to 5 people to be told when your LPA is being registered. This is intended to prevent fraud by ensuring that other people are aware that the attorney is in the process of registering the LPA.
  • When you sign your LPA, someone must confirm that you understand the document and that there is no fraud or undue pressure being used to get you to sign the LPA. They can be a friend if they have known you for 2 years or a professional such as a solicitor/doctor provided they have the relevant skills. They will be called a “Certificate Provider.”

How long will it take?

Once the LPA is sent off to the Office of the Public Guardian, it usually takes around 8 – 10 weeks before the LPA is returned having been registered.

Contact Us About LPA

Download our LPA Leaflet

Download our leaflet with more information about LPA's.

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