
Local Probate Solicitors Help With Making and Enacting Wills
Hopefully, you’ll never need anyone to help by using your power of attorney, but it’s reassuring to know that you have one in place just in case they ever do.
A lasting power of attorney isn’t only for a time when you no longer have the mental capacity to make decisions for yourself, it can also make it easier to get the help you need, when you need it, from a person or people that you trust.
Here at your local Lancaster solicitors, Holdens Law, we can help you to create a lasting power of attorney that will give you complete peace of mind and ensure that your best interests are always taken care of.
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document in which you can appoint someone else, known as your attorney, to make certain decisions on your behalf. There are two types of LPA:
A health and care LPA can only be used if you no longer have the mental capacity to make your own decisions. However, a property and financial affairs LPA can be used at any time, with your permission, to give you access to as much or as little help as you need, for example if you’re out of the country or in hospital.
A power of attorney helps someone else to look after your best interests when you are unable to, or when you need a little extra help and support. A financial LPA allows your attorney to deal with, for example, your bank accounts, running your investments and the DWP for pensions or other benefits like attendance allowance.
If you don’t have a health and care LPA, then treatment decisions will be made for you by a doctor or social worker. These decisions will always be made in your best interests, but they may not always reflect your personal wishes, especially regarding end of life care, cancer treatments or invasive procedures. With a health and care LPA, you can rest assured that your beliefs and opinions will always be part of any treatment discussions.
Many people simply assume that their spouse or civil partner will be able to make these important decisions on their behalf. However, without an LPA, they actually have no legal authority to do so. This means they could be overruled by medical staff or local care services who are following their own rules and protocol.
It’s generally advisable to use a solicitor to help you when you want to create a lasting power of attorney. Creating a lasting power of attorney is all about peace of mind, so you want to be certain that it’s worded correctly, to reflect your views and wishes, and it’s completed and witnessed in the appropriate way. As your local Lancaster solicitors, Holdens Law will make sure your LPA provides watertight protection for you whatever your circumstances.
Lancaster solicitors Holdens Law will take care of the entire process from start to finish. We will discuss the details with you to ensure that your LPA includes any preferences or instructions you wish to add. We’ll carefully manage the signing and witnessing process, to ensure it is endorsed by the right people in the right order. Finally, we’ll take care of filing your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian, so you can be sure the document is valid and correctly registered.
You never know when your health and wellbeing will change, so don’t wait until it’s too late; talk to the Older Client team at your local Lancaster solicitors, Holdens Law today.
With a lasting power of attorney you can enjoy lasting peace of mind.