Lasting powers of attorney
Choose the people you trust to make decisions for you if, one day, you can’t make them yourself.
What is a lasting power of attorney?
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people, your attorneys, to help make decisions or make them on your behalf. It only works once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
A will deals with what happens after you die. An LPA covers the time while you’re alive but might not be able to decide for yourself, for example after an accident or illness.
The two types
- Property and financial affairs: paying bills, managing bank accounts, collecting a pension, and selling your home if needed
- Health and welfare: daily care, medical treatment, where you live and, if you choose, life-sustaining treatment
Many people make both. You must be 18 or over and able to make your own decisions when you make an LPA.
Why make one now?
Without an LPA, the people closest to you may have to apply to the Court of Protection before they can help with your money or care, which can take months and cost far more.