Lasting Power of Attorney
Should you become unable to deal with your affairs for whatever reason such as losing mental capacity through illness or an accident, having the necessary documentation in place will ensure that decisions can be made on your behalf by a relative or close friend without the need for them to apply to the Court.
Lasting Powers of Attorney are not just for the elderly – mental and physical incapacity can hit at any time, so we recommend planning ahead to ease the potential burden on loved ones. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is an important legal document that gives one or more people (the attorney(s)) the legal authority to help you make decisions or make decisions on your behalf, look after specific aspects of your property, financial affairs or health and welfare should you lose the capacity to do so. This ensures you have more control if, for example, you can’t make those decisions yourself through an accident or illness.
For more information on the different types of Lasting Power of Attorney, you can click on our FAQ links below.
How our Lasting Power of Attorney Solicitors in Blackheath can help you.
Beverley Morris & Co. specialises in drawing up Lasting Powers of Attorneys on behalf of clients in order to assist them through this difficult procedure. We also deal with the registration of the LPA at the Office of the Public Guardian on the application of either the donor or the attorney.
Our regulated and qualified LPA lawyers can advise and guide you in a practical and compassionate manner. You may simply require our help in completing the Lasting Power of Attorney forms or you may prefer that we complete the whole registration process for you.
It is important to understand that you can only make a Lasting Power of Attorney whilst you still have mental capacity. If you do lose mental capacity without an appropriate LPA in place, a family member or loved one would have to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as your “Deputy”. To find out more information, please contact our specialist team to find out how we can help you or visit our pages about the Court of Protection and Deputyship.
Please call or email us to find out more or to make an appointment with one of our team.
020 8852 4433
privateclient@beverleymorris.co.uk
Ordinary Powers of Attorney
Our experienced team can also help you with an Ordinary Power of Attorney, also known as a General Power of Attorney (GPA), or simply a power of attorney. A GPA is only valid whilst you still have mental capacity, which is different from an LPA but it gives someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions about your property and financial affairs. Typically, an Ordinary Power of Attorney can be suitable if you need assistance for a temporary period, for example, if you are:-
- unwell,
- recovering from an injury,
- travelling abroad; or,
- want someone to act for you.
Our Expert Lasting Power of Attorney Team
Our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors at Beverley Morris & Co. will be happy to speak with you regarding all areas of LPA and the law surrounding the Mental Capacity Act. We will work with you and your family to find the right solution tailored to your situation.
You can find out more about our team by clicking on the links below.
How may we help you?
There are two types of LPA:
Property & Financial Affairs
Allows your appointed attorney to deal with your finances and even buy or sell property on your behalf.
Health & Welfare
Allows your appointed attorney to make decisions about your care and medical treatment when you have lost capacity.
You will need to have capacity to enter into an LPA. If you leave it until you have lost capacity, your attorney may have to make a deputyship application instead.
Many people choose to make an LPA at the same time as making a Will.
We will invite you into our office to discuss your requirements and to begin drafting the form(s). The forms need to be signed and witnessed correctly before being sent to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration.
Once registered, we will provide you with the original and some certified copies of the LPA for you to keep in a safe place until such a time as you need to use it.
We usually charge a fixed fee for this service. Please contact us for more information:
020 8852 4433
privateclient@beverleymorris.co.uk
There is also a fee per LPA payable to the Office of the Public Guardian for the registration.
