Powers of Attorney
The law surrounding Powers of Attorney is complex.
The previous system of Enduring Powers of Attorney has been replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney and we can assist clients in the preparation and registration of these documents.
We also deal with the preparation of General Powers of Attorney for specific matters and short – term attorney appointments.
For many people, it is essential to have a valid Power of Attorney in place to ensure that there is someone who is able to act on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so perhaps because of old age, illness or simply because you are often out of the country. There are several types of power of attorney but the most common are Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs and Lasting Power of Attorney for Welfare. As the names suggest, one enables your attorneys (who can be relatives, friends or a professional such as a solicitor) to deal with your property and finances and the other gives your attorneys the power to make decisions in respect of your welfare such as medical treatment and nursing care. Your attorneys do not need to act for you until you are unable to do so for yourself or until you wish them to do so.
If ones mental capacity declines to the point that they can no longer make decisions legally for their own affairs and they have not previously made either an Enduring Power of Attorney or a Lasting Power of Attorney, we can advise on the process of obtaining a decision from the appropriate Court, to decide on who should act as Attorney in those often difficult cases.
To discuss any aspect concerning Powers of Attorney, either for yourself or on behalf of another, please contact us.
Particularly with elderly clients we often visit clients at home or in nursing care if the need arises and so there is no need to be concerned about making a trip to the office if this is impractical for any reason.