Have you got your Lasting Powers of Attorney in order?
Nearly a year on from the first National Lockdown, individuals are still experiencing problems with making decisions for their loved ones if they have lost mental capacity, even temporarily, hence the need for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).
A LPA enables your appointed Attorneys to make decisions for you in the event that you become incapable.
LPAs can be confusing, and, sometimes, lengthy documents. At Thompson Smith and Puxon we are able to advise you:
- On the different types of LPAs
- On the right LPA to suit your individual circumstances
- Who you may want to consider appointing as your Attorneys
- Safeguards that can be put in place to protect the LPAs from being misused
These types of benefits and safeguards are generally not available with a LPA drafted online.
We advise clients to register their LPAs at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) as soon as they have been signed. The standard fee for registration is £82 per document although fee exemption/remission may be available in certain circumstances. The registration process takes 8 – 10 weeks.
If the person has already lost mental capacity then it will not be possible to put a LPA in place and a Deputyship Order will need to be considered.
If you would like further information about making a Lasting Power of Attorney, please call our Wills and Estates team on 01206 574 431 or e-mail info@tsplegal.com