A Will looks after your affairs when you have died, whereas…

A Lasting Power of Attorney looks after your affairs whilst you are still alive.

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA.

You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen.

There are 2 types of LPA:

• Health and Welfare

• Property and Financial Affairs

You can choose to make one type or both.

Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:

• Your daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating

• Medical care

• Moving into a care home

• Life-sustaining treatment

Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for you, for example:

• Managing a bank or building society account

• Paying bills

• Collecting benefits or a pension

• Selling your home

It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your permission.

It costs £82 to register each LPA (July 2021) unless you get a reduction or exemption. You can later cancel your LPA if you no longer need it or wish to make a new one. LPAs can be done online or by post directly by you with the Office of the Public Guardian. If you chose to have a company like Willrite complete all the forms for you, you must understand they will charge a fee for their time and expertise in doing this for you.

For full details go to the Government website; https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney