Lasting Powers of Attorney

We provide expert advice and guidance on the drafting of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) to clients who want to give someone authority to make decisions for them in the future in the even that they become unable to do so themselves.

None of us know what the future holds but we do know that more and more of us are living longer. The rising incidence of chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, plus the risk of sudden and serious injury, all mean that it can make sense to have someone you trust to be legally empowered to make decisions about your finances and welfare if you reach a point when you cannot.

At Coodes, we recognise that planning for a time when you may be incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions can be upsetting and confusing. That is why our experienced team will take you through the process, explaining any legal terms and avoiding jargon, and help you to understand your options so that you can make an informed decision. We will also produce your LPA quickly so that you don’t have to dwell on what may be a difficult subject but instead get on with life, safe in the knowledge the future is taken care of.

Our expert lawyers will:

• Guarantee that the final document is accurate, legally valid and reflecting of your wishes.
• Register the document with the Office of the Public Guardian on your behalf.

We can also provide adivce to Attorneys about their role and responsibilites under the LPA and help them make decisions in the best intrested of the person who made LPA (reffered to as the ‘donor’).

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that you can use to appoint one or more persons to make decisions for you including if you should become physically or mentally incapacitated. Many people use an LPA to grant their adult children or other close ones the legal right to make certain decisions for them – about their money, their property, where they live, and about their health and care needs. LPAs have replaced the old-style EPAs but if you made an EPA before 1 October 2007 it is still valid. Our team can advise anyone named in either an LPA or an EPA about administering someone’s affairs.

LPAs and elderly or vulnerable individuals

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you in the event that you are not able to make those decisions for yourself. The people appointed under the LPA are called ‘Attorneys’.

There are two types of LPA:

Property and Financial Affairs

This allows the person or people you select to look after your finances. This can include:

• Paying your bills
• Managing your investments
• Selling your home
• Collecting benefits

Health and Welfare

This allows the person or people you select to make decisions about:

• Your daily routine
• Medical care, including life-sustaining treatment
• When and if you should move into a care home

We have particular expertise advising older individuals and their families about lifetime planning matters. As well as LPA advice, we provide a range of services to meet the needs of elderly and vulnerable cleints.

If your loved one already struggles to make their own decisions – for example, due to a brain injury or illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s – they may not be able to make an LPA. In these cases, we can provide advice about making an application to the Court of Protection to become a deputy. We have a specialist Court of Protection team who are dedicated to this area of work.

If you need advice about an LPA, either for yourself or for a loved one who may need extra support in time, we can provide advice and guidance. Call on 0800 328 3282 or fill in the enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch with you.