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Helping you plan for the unexpected

You know you need a Will to protect your family and ensure your wishes are respected after you are gone. But what happens if you lose the ability to make decisions while you are still alive? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you appoint people you trust to make decisions on your behalf, should you lose mental capacity.

Why should I make a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Set out your wishes

Protect your family

Save time and money

Prevent your family from the burden and stress of the state taking control of your affairs.


Save your family the considerable expense of application, renewal and bond costs.


Decide what you would like to happen to you and your affairs, before it’s too late.


Lasting Powers of Attorney

Many people assume that their spouse, partner or child would be able to automatically take over their affairs if they became ill or lost the ability to make their own decisions. This is simply not the case.

LPAs allow you to legally appoint someone you know and trust to make decisions and act on your behalf should you be come unable to do so for yourself, due to illness, accident, stroke or dementia.

Health & Welfare

Property & Financial Affairs

£350

£350

This document allows your Attorney to make decisions and act on your behalf with regards to your health and welfare. This may range from your day-to-day care, e.g. diet and daily routine to medical treatment and end of life decisions. It can only be used when you are unable to make your own decisions.

This document allows your Attorney to make decisions and act on your behalf with regards to your property and financial affairs. This may range from paying bills and making enquiries with the bank to buying or selling property and managing investments. It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your permission.

Without

Without

Decisions may be made about your health care and welfare needs that you would disagree with.


You lose the ability to choose who should make health care and welfare decisions for you.

Your loved ones won’t be able to manage your financial affairs, which can be difficult if bills are outstanding or assets need to be dealt with (such as selling a house).


You
won’t be able to select a trusted family member or friend (or a professional such as a solicitor) to make decisions on your behalf.

What happens without an LPA?

Lasting Power of Attorney gives you control over what happens to you and your affairs during your lifetime. Without one, there is no guarantee that your wishes will be followed should you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.


The Court of Protection will appoint someone called a Deputy on your behalf. Imagine someone you do not know operating your bank accounts and investments or deciding where you live and at the same time charging you a fee without you knowing.


What’s more, family members could end up fighting over what’s best for you, and may be burdened with legal complications, delays and additional costs at what is already a difficult time.

Secure your financial and personal care before it’s too late.

You don’t need to make both types of LPA at the same time, and you don’t have to grant Lasting Power of Attorney to the same person or people for each type. But, both LPAs give you control over what happens to you and your affairs during your lifetime. Without both, there is no guarantee that your wishes will be followed should you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. Your mental capacity can be compromised by unforeseen circumstances, so a Lasting Power of Attorney is something that everybody should have.

Three simple steps to protecting you and your loved ones

1. Speak to one of our team to arrange your home visit appointment. We can visit at a time that suits you, day or evening, seven days a week.


2. At your appointment, we’ll talk you through the legal powers of attorneys, who you can appoint, the different types of LPAs and how to structure your LPA.


3. Within 28 days, your LPAs will be drafted by our Legal Department and sent back to you for approval. Once signed and witnessed, we can send your LPA to be officially registered.

"Having a Lasting Power of Attorney should be as common and natural as making a Will”

Jack Straw, former Lord Chancellor

* We can quote for couriering your documents to an address outside of the UK if required.

Suitability for a home visit is dependent on the size and complexity of the estate, and will be assessed on the initial phone call.

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