A LPA can be drawn up at any time by anyone over 18 whilst you have mental capacity but cannot be used by your Attorneys until has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney namely, a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA.
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA will allow you to choose someone to make decisions about how to spend your money and the way your property and affairs are managed.
A LPA will give your Attorneys full control over your property and finances including:
- Managing your Bank Accounts and investments including opening and closing accounts.
- Claiming and receiving benefits and other payments like pensions and rebates on your behalf.
- Paying bills, household, care fees etc.
- Buying, selling or renting any property that you own.
- Making gifts – limited to making gifts to people who are related to or connected with you for special occasions such as birthdays.
You should also consider having a separate LPA if you own a business as a sole trader or in a Partnership or are in certain professions.
Health and Welfare LPA
A Health and Welfare LPA allows you to choose someone to make decisions about your healthcare and welfare. Decisions about your personal welfare are wide-ranging. They can include decisions about where you live, how you are cared for and what health care you receive; they can also include specific decisions about medical treatments or more general decisions.
They are different from Living Wills (also known as an ‘Advance Decision’) which may only cater for some of the matters which are dealt with by a Health and Welfare LPA.
Further information
Please see our other pages and information sheets relating to
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- A guide to being an Attorney
- Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Deputyship
How can we help?
Here at Taylor Haldane Barlex our team of specialists can explain the benefits of a Lasting Power of Attorney and assist you in drawing up the documents to ensure that you have the appropriate protection in place. For more information please contact our team today.
For our office in Shoeburyness and Benfleet please contact Carly Dartnell on 01702 298 282 or email [email protected]
For our offices in Chelmsford and Braintree please contact Roger Philpot on 01245 349696 or email [email protected]
For our offices in Ipswich and Norwich please contact Donna Taylor on 01473 226 577 or email [email protected]
