Factsheet: Preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney

• What kind of LPA do you want to make?
• Who to choose as your Attorney?
• How many Attorneys to choose?
• Replacement Attorneys
• Decisions Attorneys can make
• Notification of a Power of Attorney
• Enduring Power of Attorney (pre-2007)
• Legal Power of Attorney advice

What kind of LPA do you want to make?

A common misconception is that a Power of Attorney is only about finances and affairs. There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and you need to decide whether you want to make one LPA or two. The two LPAs are:

• Decisions about your property and finances. This LPA covers everything relating to your affairs, including bills to pay, sale of property and cashing in investments. LPAs for property and finance are useful, and often necessary, to allow decisions to be made about day-to-day issues including access to your bank accounts, pensions and benefits, and paying for your care.
• Decisions about health and welfare. This LPA can relate to relatively simple matters such as where you will live as well as more complicated issues such as whether you should receive certain types of medical treatment or life-sustaining treatment. While this might seem less relevant in terms of your day-to-day matters, this type of power of attorney can become vital if you lose mental capacity and important decisions about your welfare must be made.

Who to choose as your Attorney?

The first thing to consider is to whom you would like to give Power of Attorney. Most people choose their spouse, children or even a professional to act as their Attorney, but you can choose whoever you want. You need to think about who you trust to make appropriate decisions for you, and if you choose more than one Attorney, whether you want them to work together or individually.

How many Attorneys to choose?

If you appoint only one person, consider what could go wrong if you have lost mental capacity and that person is no longer able to act on your behalf. What if they become ill or die before you? By then it will be too late to complete another Power of Attorney form and your family will have to consider applying for Deputyship.

Replacement Attorneys

You can protect yourself if your original Attorney is unavailable or unable to make decisions by naming a Replacement Attorney within your application. The replacement will take over should your original Attorney be temporarily or permanently unable to act and will ensure your LPA is still valid.

What decisions can Attorneys make?

While you trust your Attorneys, you may be nervous about giving them the power to make all decisions for you. You will need to give your Attorney clear guidance about what decisions they can and cannot make, what they can do by themselves (if you are appointing more than one Attorney) and about what your wishes are. It is important to think carefully about the powers, restrictions and guidance you give to your Attorneys. Some factors to consider include:

• The property and finances about which the Attorneys can make decisions;
• Placing a limit on the sums your Attorneys can manage at one time;
• Provision for payment and expenses for your Attorneys;
• Your specific instructions and prohibitions;
• When Attorneys should seek guidance or specialist advice;
• Where you want to live;
• Your medical treatment and care; and
• Decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment. Such decisions are made by doctors but they should listen to your Attorneys’ views. You can give your Attorneys instructions as to your wishes and intentions

Once you have decided what you want, it is always advisable to seek professional advice to ensure that the completed Power of Attorney form reflects your intentions properly while remaining practical. The Office of Public Guardian will reject LPAs that give powers which are not practicable.

Notification of a Power of Attorney

In addition to your Attorney(s), other people should then be notified about the Power of Attorney. This is a safeguard to prevent Attorneys from abusing their position of trust and is a useful way of making sure other people are not surprised when Attorneys try to act for you in the future.

Enduring Power of Attorney (pre-2007)

People who made Powers of Attorney before 2007 are likely to have made an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) rather than a Lasting Power of Attorney. EPAs are still valid so if you have an EPA, you do not need to make a LPA unless you wish to cancel or amend the EPA. However, the EPA only allows Attorneys to make decisions about property and finances. If you also want your Attorney to make decisions about your health and welfare you will need to make a separate LPA for health and welfare.

Legal advice about making Power of Attorney

Getting specialist legal advice before making a Lasting Power of Attorney will help ensure your LPA reflects your wishes while remaining workable. The Office of Public Guardian will reject any LPA it considers unworkable.

If you would like to find out how a Lasting Power of Attorney solicitor can help you, contact us today on 01273 609911, or email info@ms-solicitors.co.uk.