Lasting Power of Attorney
- Who will manage your affairs should you become incapable due to a stroke, dementia,
Alzheimer's, accident?
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Who will sign cheques, documents, withdraw money from your account to pay the bills?
Unless you have a Power of Attorney in place you may end up with your partner going to court
for permission to handle your affairs, at a time when they could do without this added stress. This can all be avoided by putting a Power of Attorney in place.
From 1st October, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 changed the way in which an individual could
make these arrangements. A new provision, the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), replaced the
old Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).
There are two different types of LPA and you may wish to make one or both. They are:
A
Personal Welfare LPA allows your Attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your personal welfare, including whether to give or refuse consent to medical treatment.
A
Property and Affairs LPA allows your Attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your property and affairs, including paying your bills, collecting your income and benefits or selling your house subject to any restrictions or conditions.
Contact
Legal Services UK for more information on Lasting Power of Attorney.