Why might you need a power of attorney?

An LPA is a legal instrument which helps you nominate trusted individuals, known as attorneys, to make decisions about your health care or to deal with your financial and property affairs, should you not have the capacity to do so. Here we will look at why you might need to create such a document.

Remember, you can create a power of attorney online by searching for sites such as https://powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/.

Which LPAs can I create?

A property and financial affairs LPA allows attorneys to settle bills, look after bank accounts, deal with pensions and buy or sell property. If the donor gives permission, it can be activated when it is registered. In this case, mental capacity is not an issue.

A health and welfare lasting power of attorney gives your attorneys the right to decide about your health needs and is active once you lose mental capacity.

Why would I need an LPA?

LPAs help individuals plan for the future whilst they retain mental capacity. Anyone can suffer an accident or suffer from a diagnosis of an illness such as dementia.

It is important to understand that LPAs do not just deal with loss of mental capacity but also a serious accident or debilitating illness, which means they need trusted individuals to make decisions for them. Parents may also need an LPA if they have children who need care into the future and are not able to make decisions for themselves.

LPAs are registered once they are created with the Office of the Public Guardian.