Lasting Powers of Attorney

Many of us take for granted our capability to run our own lives, from paying bills to making decisions about our health. However, if you become incapacitated due to illness, a serious accident, a mental health issue or dementia, all that stops – unless you have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) “empowers” people you trust – friends, relative or a professional – to take over running your affairs if you become incapable of doing so yourself.

These attorneys can look after your finances, pay bills, and take important decisions about your health and care on your behalf. In an unpredictable world, creating and registering LPAs at least ensures that your affairs are properly taken care of until you are capable of taking them on yourself again.

There are two types of LPAs:

Health and Welfare
Property and Finance

One gives your attorneys access to your financial affairs, and the other helps them make decisions for your physical health and wellbeing, including decisions regarding care. The good news is that you can have both LPAs in place, and they are only activated when required.

How I can help with LPAs

Lasting Power of Attorney forms are important documents that must be:

Completed correctly and free from errors
Certified by someone who knows you
Be properly registered before they come into effect

You can do your LPAs online yourself BUT the forms are not entirely straightforward, and LPAs are difficult to change once made.

I can help you create, certificate and register your LPAs so they are right the first time. To arrange your LPAs:

LPAs will be drafted by Panthera Estate Planning Ltd.

Why you need to do your LPAs ASAP

Nobody knows what is around the corner in life, so whether you’re just starting a family or about to retire, you should create your LPAs as soon as possible.

One very good reason for this is that you must have the mental capacity to create your LPAs, and your mental capacity needs to be confirmed by an independent person.

You also need to ask people to be your attorneys before you submit your LPA forms. This is not a conversation to be rushed! Attorneys need to understand what might be required of them, and sign an official document that they agree to act as such, before the LPAs can be registered.

All Lasting Powers of Attorney need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, and they are not valid until their registration is confirmed. The gov website gives a timescale of 8-10 weeks “if there are no mistakes in the application”. This includes a statutory waiting period of four weeks. However, this processing time only dropped recently from 16 weeks, so it’s best to get your LPA applications done as soon as possible.

Want to learn more about LPAs?

Check out my Lasting Power of Attorney guides, read my articles, or call me to discuss my special pricing for “mirror” LPAs for you and your spouse/partner.