Home » Wills, Probate and LPA’s » Lasting Power of Attorney

Do you need help managing the financial affairs or health decisions of a relative?  Are you concerned that failing health may leave you incapable of managing your own finances and general well being?  We can help.

It is a sad fact of life that some people become incapable of managing their own financial affairs and welfare decisions in later life.  This could be due to failing mental faculties, or simply down to poor general health.  In these cases, we can assist with the appointment of a third party to manage such decisions, or one of our expert solicitors can step in as an Attorney or Deputy.  Here’s how this works in practice.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) allows your Attorneys to make decisions for you when you are unable to make them yourself. LPAs require particular procedures and formalities to be followed and, unlike a General Power of Attorney, they will not be automatically revoked if you become mentally incapable. An LPA can be drawn up at any time whilst you have mental capacity but cannot be used by your Attorneys until it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney:

Financial Decisions

This allows your attorney to make decisions such as:

  • Managing your bank accounts and investments

  • Claiming your pension and benefits on your behalf

  • Paying Bills

Health & Care Decisions

This allows your attorney to make decisions such as:

  • Where you live

  • How you are cared for

  • Medical treatments

Respected financial journalist Martin Lewis has said in his weekly newsletter that having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place is “even more important than a Will” and we wholeheartedly agree.  If you lose mental capacity it can take months for your family to appoint a Deputy through the courts and will cost thousands of pounds in upfront and annual court fees.

Purchase a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney together to save money

If you are worried about the cost of obtaining both a Will and an LPA, then we have a cost-effective solution to that problem.  If you purchase a Will and an LPA at the same time, we offer a discount, as time will be saved when drafting them together.  The more protection you purchase, the more you save meaning a couple purchasing a Will and an LPA each will achieve substantial savings.

To find out more, ask our team for full details when you contact us.

Free Lasting Power Of Attorney Information Sheet

We’ve only covered the basics of how Lasting Powers of Attorney work, for more details, just download our FREE Information Sheet:

Lasting Powers of Attorney Information Sheet

To discuss your situation, book a Free 30 Minute Consultation

At Backhouse Solicitors our specialist solicitors will explain in simple terms how Lasting Powers of Attorney can be used to protect you and your family should the worst happen.  We will help you prepare and register the LPAs that work for you and if no other suitable person is available we can even act as an Attorney on your behalf.

For more information contact one of our team today.

Tel:          01245 893400
Email:     [email protected]
Visit:       17 Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JU
Or send us a message through the Contact Us page on this website.