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This article was published on October 4th, 2013
Many of us think “I’m too young” or “nothing is going to happen to me” or “I will address this at a later stage”. However we all know someone who has been subjected to a critical illness, serious accident or a rapid deterioration in health. Should this happen and you’re unable to manage your own affairs it will be too late to appoint a loved one and your affairs will be dealt with by a court. This is why you should think about a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) now.
A LPA is a legal mechanism by which you can appoint another person to make decisions for you should you become incapable for any reason. This gives you, your family and loved ones the peace of mind that all matters will be dealt with in your best interests by someone who you know and trust should anything unfortunate happen to you. There are 2 types of LPA –
First is a Property and Financial Affairs LPA. This allows the person you have chosen, to make financial decisions on your behalf, which may include paying bills, dealing with the bank, collecting benefits, selling and buying property. Even if you already have an Enduring Power of Attorney in place, it is worth updating this to the newer Lasting Power of Attorney which is more flexible and allows you to plan in advance the decisions you want to be made, the people you want to make these decisions and how you want these decisions to be made.
Second is a Health and Welfare LPA where you can choose in advance who will be authorised to make decisions such as what medical treatment, where you live and who should care for you in the event of you losing the capacity to make decisions.
It is worth taking the time now to ensure you and your family have peace of mind and reassurance that your affairs will be well looked after should anything happen to you. We are currently offering the preparation of Lasting Power of Attorney for £250 + VAT. If you would like to discuss what options are available to you contact Sharon Farrow or Kirsten Boardman, Thorneycroft Solicitors specialists in LPAs on 01625 503444.
