Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)
Lasting Powers of Attorney are documents unlike normal Power of Attorney that can be used when you have or lack metal capacity.
They allow you to appoint someone that you trust (known as an attorney) to manage your affairs in the event that you unable to do so yourself.
These are the 2 types of LPA:
Lasting Power of Attorney – Property & Financial Affairs:
- Your attorney or attorneys can look after all of your financial affairs. This includes being able to run your bank accounts, investments & if needed to sell your property.
- It is primarily used to allow your attorney or attorneys to deal with your affairs after the onset of mental and/or physical incapacity
- If you still have mental capacity to make your own decisions but are physically unable to manage your affairs, then your attorney(s) can simply carry out your instructions
Lasting Power of Attorney – Health & Welfare
- Your attorney(s) can make decisions regarding your living accommodation, look after your medical needs and other welfare aspects.
- You can give your attorney(s) the right to make decisions on life sustaining treatments.
The Office of the Public Guardian
Before any LPA can be used the document must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. It is always recommended to register a LPA immediately although some people don’t. Until a LPA is registered your attorneys cannot use it. Unregistered LPA’s may be mislaid. Although it normally takes 6/8 weeks to register a LPA longer time period have been known, which cause problems.