The LPA allows you to nominate someone to manage your financial affairs and property and also to make decisions concerning your health and welfare, should you lose the mental capacity to do so yourself. You can nominate different attorneys to be responsible for different decisions. For example, one attorney could be responsible for your finances, while another could look after your medical treatment and welfare.
If in the future you lack the capacity to look after your own personal welfare, your nominated attorney(s) can deal with matters such as your social and healthcare needs, deciding where you should live and making general decisions about your day-to-day life.
Similarly, if you lack the capacity to look after your own finances, your attorney(s) can deal with matters such as operating your bank accounts, claiming pensions and benefits on your behalf, submitting your tax returns, paying your household expenses and paying for private medical care and residential care costs.
LPAs cannot be used without first being registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The OPG often rejects incorrectly completed LPAs and we therefore strongly advise that you have the documents drawn up by us on your behalf.
Please contact our Head of Estate Planning Jayne Parsons if you would like to discuss our Lasting Powers of Attorney services further.
