A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which appoints someone to make decisions on your behalf.
There are two different types and when a decision can be made depends upon the type of decision being made.
What is it?
Lasting power of attorney is a legal document that lets you to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to help you make decisions OR to make decisions on your behalf in the future.
Types
There are two types of lasting power of attorney:
- Health and welfare
- Property and financial affairs
Making a lasting power of attorney
- Choose your attorney – you can have more than one and doesn’t have to be a relative.
- Complete forms to appoint them as your attorney online or paper.
- Register your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian – this can take up to 20 weeks.
- Each LPA costs £82
Health and wellbeing
This gives your attorney the power to make decisions about things like:
- Daily routines
- Medical care
- Moving into a care home
- Life sustaining treatment
Only when you’re unable to make your own decisions.
Property and finance
This LPA gives your attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for:
- Managing a bank or building society account
- Paying bills
- Collecting benefits or pension
- Selling your home
This can be used, with your permission as soon as its registered.
The attorney
- You can have more than one attorney
- The attorney needs to be over 18
- The attorney must have the mental capacity to make their own decisions
- The attorney does not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen
- Choose someone you trust
- Choose someone you know well
- Choose someone you would be happy to make decisions for you
Further information
Office of the Public Guardian
PO Box 16185
Birmingham
B2 2WH