Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document that you sign to appoint somebody to act for you should you for any reason become unable to manage your own affairs.

It’s a powerful and complex document (26 pages) but don’t worry – we take all the pain out of the process of creating it.

If you care enough about what happens to your assets after you die, you ought to care even more about keeping them safe whilst you are alive.

If you do not have a Lasting Power of Attorney, then if for any reason you suddenly become unable to manage your own affairs, then the only way that your financial affairs can be managed is by an application to the Office of the Public Guardianship. This could be arranged by a relative or other person close to you, but could cost over £1,000 to process, during which time your finances could be seriously damaged. Also the person authorised to handle affairs on your behalf may not be the person who you would have chosen, and may even be a Court Official – who can (and will) charge every time they act for you.

Important

You must be mentally capable to make an LPA. Therefore – just like a Will – if you don’t have one then by the time you really need one it could be too late.

These pages give a general overview of the issues surrounding Estate Planning and are based on our understanding of the current laws and tax regulation for England & Wales, which may be subject to change. They are not intended to give advice and you should seek professional advice when planning your estate.