Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

There may come a time when, because you are incapable of managing your property and financial affairs or personal welfare, you will need someone to do this for you. You can formally appoint a friend, relative or professional to hold a lasting power of attorney that will allow them to act on your behalf.

A lasting power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust as an 'attorney' to make decisions on your behalf.

It can be drawn up at any time while you have capacity, but has no legal standing until it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

A registered LPA can be used at any time, whether you have the mental ability to act for yourself or not.

You can create two types of LPA:

• Property and Affairs LPA
• Personal Welfare LPA

Property and Affairs LPA

A Property and Affairs LPA allows you to choose someone to make decisions about how to spend your money and the way your property and affairs are managed.

Personal Welfare LPA

A Personal Welfare LPA allows you to choose someone to make decisions about your healthcare and welfare. This includes decisions to refuse or consent to treatment on your behalf and deciding where you live. These decisions can only be taken on your behalf when the LPA is registered and you lack the capacity to make the decisions yourself.

Important: An LPA has no legal standing until it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Note; The above information has been provided by the UK's Directgov department.

For more information and help in this area please contact us.

Please note that all references in this site relate to United Kingdom Wills and all Wills are produced on this basis. Those people of a non-UK nationality are advised to seek advice from a suitably trained professional specialising in the laws of their own country. All information supplied on this site should be used as general information only and individuals should seek advice before completing their Will. Details on this site should not be copied or reproduced in any format without specific written authority.Special thanks goes to the Society Of Will Writers on which some of the content of this site is based.