A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more persons, known as attorneys, to manage your affairs and/or make decisions about your personal welfare if you are unable to do so. You can specify that the document only come into effect if you should ever begin to lose capacity.
Why make a Lasting Power of Attorney?
By making a Lasting Power of Attorney, you can provide in advance for the possibility that you may one day become incapable of handling your financial affairs and property or making decisions about your own personal welfare. In these circumstances, it is important that your best interests are protected and your affairs are managed with efficiency and integrity. You may therefore wish to appoint in advance persons whom you trust to act on your behalf if this should ever become necessary.
It is necessary to make a Lasting Power of Attorney before there is a need for it to be used because you must have sufficient capacity to understand the implications of the document when it is created. The Lasting Power of Attorney should be registered at court to bring it into force and ensure that your best interests are safeguarded.
A Lasting Power of Attorney can be very flexible:
- You can appoint one or more attorneys of your choice provided that they are over 18, as well as a successor or substitute attorney.
- You can specify whether your attorneys must act together or are able to act separately.
- You can authorise your attorneys to take whatever actions you wish. For example, you may wish them to have the authority to look after your financial matters and property. Following a change in the law, you can now also empower your attorneys to make decisions about your welfare, such as giving or refusing consent to medical treatment if you are unable to do so yourself.
- Restrictions can be included to limit the scope of your attorneys’ powers if you feel that this is appropriate.
- You can revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney at any time while you are mentally capable.
If you would like more information about making a Lasting Power of Attorney, please call 020 7485 8811 or complete an online enquiry form.
Our service includes explaining and preparing the lasting power of attorney document to reflect your wishes and registering the document as court for you.
We will explain the nature and effect of a Lasting Power of Attorney to you, and draft a document that reflects your personal wishes. Once you have approved the document, we will arrange for it to be registered at court.
Accreditations
Latest Wills, Probate & Disputed Estates News
LPAs: How to prevent a loved one entrusting their affairs to the wrong person
Record numbers of us are entrusting our finances to loved ones, with over 800,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) registered a year according to the Office of the Public Guardian […]
Read MoreVigilance needed to protect those vulnerable to undue influence when making wills
The coronavirus pandemic has left many elderly and vulnerable people increasingly isolated due to social distancing, shielding and restrictions on households mixing. Experts at London law firm Osbornes Law warn […]
Read MoreVideo-witnessed wills
Over the weekend the government announced plans to introduce legislation that will allow wills to be witnessed remotely via video. The provisions are to be backdated to 31 January 2020 […]
Read MoreTransferring property to your children to avoid tax could backfire
Transferring property to your children to avoid inheritance tax may appear to make financial sense but lawyers warn there are risks involved, including the possibility you will be forced out […]
Read MoreOsbornes Recognised as Leading Lawyers in HNW Guide
Osbornes Law are delighted to have once again been ranked in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2020. The High Net Worth ranks top lawyers and law firms who represent […]
Read MoreOsbornes Law hires international expert to growing wills team
London law firm Osbornes Law has strengthened its Wills, Probate & Disputed Estates Team with the arrival of Katie de Swarte from Child & Child. With over ten years’ experience, […]
Read MoreJan Atkinson, senior partner writes on personal financial matters for the Jewish Chronicle
Our Head of Wills, Probate and Estate Management at Osbornes Law has contributed to a special Finance Supplement on ‘Dealing with your Personal Finances and Affairs’ for the Jewish Chronicle. […]
Read MoreHow to ensure money left in your will goes to the causes you care about
The coronavirus crisis has seen the public rally around the NHS which has benefitted from considerable fundraising efforts and donations in recent months. Research by the Charities Aid Foundation has […]
Read MoreJan Atkinson, Head of Wills, Probate and Estate Administration comments on the increase in contested Wills
The Sunday Times newspaper article. 19th April 2020, headlined “More families going to war over wills” provided an insight on recent developments surrounding families contesting wills. Speaking to their reporter, […]
Read MoreHow do I make a will with social distancing rules in place?
The coronavirus crisis means many are considering updating their will or making one for the first time. Whilst this is a sensible step to take, strict social distancing measures mean […]
Read More
