Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are documents that can be put in place, which allow your appointed attorneys to manage your financial and health affairs, should you lose mental capacity (i.e. the ability to make decisions for yourself).
The importance of LPAs is unfortunately often overlooked, as the topic of losing mental capacity is never a pleasant conversation. Whilst these things are never nice to think about, the alternative is unfortunately a lot worse.
At Oliver & Co Solicitors, we can provide expert advice as to your LPAs and draft the documents in accordance with your instructions.
What would a Financial LPA do for me?
An LPA in respect of Financial Decisions would allow your attorneys to step in and assist you with your financial affairs, which could include things such as paying your bills and speaking to the bank on your behalf. The benefit of having the Financial LPA is that we can draft the document in such a way that it can either only be used if you lose mental capacity, or it can be more flexible and allow your attorneys to help you a lot sooner if needed.
What would a Health LPA do for me?
Having a Health LPA would allow your attorneys to be able to correspond with your doctors should you lose mental capacity. Within the Health LPA, you can also give the power to your attorneys to carry out your personal preferences in respect of life sustaining treatment or any wishes as to how you would like to be cared for, should you lose mental capacity.
What if I have lost mental capacity before setting up LPAs?
Should you lose mental capacity and not have any LPAs in place, your loved ones would need to apply through the Courts for a Deputyship Order, which can be a lengthy and costly process. Our legal experts at Oliver & Co would be able to assist with an application the Courts, should your circumstances require this.
Next Steps
We would always recommend that you put in place LPAs in order to plan for your future Financial and Health security.
If you wish to speak to one our Solicitors about setting up LPA’s, please contact the office by completing this contact form or calling 01244 987 419.
