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Lasting Powers of Attorney
05 April 2011
Have you considered what would happen if you were no longer able to make your own decisions regarding your finances or health? A Lasting Power of Attorney ("LPA") is an important legal document that enables you (the Donor) to choose another person or people (the Attorney(s)) to make decisions on your behalf. An Attorney is appointed to make decisions as if they were the Donor themselves. An Attorney must act in the Donor’s best interests at all times.
There are two different types of LPAs:-
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
A property and financial affairs LPA will allow your attorneys to make decisions regarding your finances. This may include paying bills, selling your property or managing your bank accounts and investments.
Health and Welfare LPA
A health and welfare LPA will allow your attorneys to make decisions such as your medical treatment or your day to day care arrangements. Perhaps most importantly it contains an advance directive regarding life sustaining treatment.
An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian ("OPG") before it can be used. An unregistered LPA will not give the Attorney any legal powers to make a decision for the Donor.
If you would like to make a Lasting Power of Attorney or require any further information please contact out Trust and Estates Team on 01372 860650 and we will be pleased to assist you.
Elsie Lyford
Solicitor
