Lasting Power of Attorney
Who will look after your affairs if you are no longer able to?
With a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, you can make sure that all decisions regarding your health care, finances and property are made by those that you love and trust, if and when you no longer can.
What is Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that gives your chosen representative (your partner, spouse or close friend for example) the power to make important decisions on your behalf.
If in the future you are unable to manage your own affairs, the people you have appointed can manage your financial life on your behalf.
This can save a great deal of money and distress, and will ensure that, as a vulnerable person, your affairs will be handled correctly and quickly.
Nobody hopes for the worst… but you can prepare for it.
Why should I have an LPA in place?
LPA for financial decisions
An LPA for financial decisions can be used while you still have mental capacity or you can state that you only want it to come into force if you lose capacity.
An LPA for financial decisions can cover things such as:
- buying and selling property
- paying the mortgage
- investing money
- paying bills
- arranging repairs to property
You can restrict the types of decisions your attorney can make, or let them make all decisions on your behalf.
LPA for health and care decisions
This covers health and care decisions and can only be used once you have lost mental capacity. An attorney can generally make decisions about things such as:
- where you should live
- your medical care
- what you should eat
- who you should have contact with
- what kind of social activities you should take part in.
You can also give special permission for your attorney to make decisions about life-saving treatment.