Lasting Power of Attorney Solicitors
However distant it may seem, it’s always a good idea to prepare for a time when we may require help in making important decisions regarding our welfare, health and finances.
Talk to one of our team members on 0330 111 3131
If you are considering appointing a lasting power of attorney (LPA) then the first step is to understand the full range of options available to you.
Our solicitors draw on years of experience advising clients in relation to the preparation, supply and registration of a lasting power of attorney (LPAs).
An LPA is a legal document that lets an individual appoint one or more ‘attorneys’ to manage affairs and make decisions on their behalf, or to help them make such decisions.
Having lasting power of attorney in place can provide clarity, leaving you safe in the knowledge that someone you trust will help you make decisions, or keep your best interests at heart when making decisions for you if you lose the capacity to make your own decisions. For example, if you have an accident or develop an illness which affects your mental capacity.
We work closely with local communities throughout the North West of England to support families in formalising their future plans for shared responsibility. Our lawyers are also able to offer expert legal advice if an LPA is subject to a dispute, or if there is an internal rift within the family.
Generally, we provide legal support for two types of lasting power of attorney:
- Health and welfare – This allows an appointed attorney to make choices about your medical care and care arrangements.
- Property and finance – This allows an appointed attorney to make financial decisions, including management of a person’s property, bills and pension.
We can also help to create ‘Mirror LPAs’, where two parties appoint each other for their lasting power of attorney.
Contact Us Today
Duties when acting as an Attorney
As an attorney, you do not need to have legal experience. You simply need to be able to make decisions in the best interests of the person who has appointed you as LPA, ‘the donor’.
Where possible, you should help the donor to make decisions.
Within the LPA documentation there may be instructions from the donor on what to do in various circumstances. You are expected to respect these wishes.
When difficult decisions arise, you cannot ask someone else to make the decision. You can, however, seek advice from social services, the Court of Protection, or the Office of the Public Guardian, where you require guidance on particularly serious decisions.
[faq-list]
Submitting Lasting Power of Attorney without sufficient mental capacity
Appointing LPA when you have full mental capacity is simpler when sufficient mental capacity is already lacking, whether due to illness or injury.
Many clients ask our solicitors for our support when a member of their family lacks sufficient mental capacity to submit an LPA due to illness, or any other reason. In these circumstances, we can also advise on submitting a formal application to the Court of Protection. We are particularly well versed in this area because our head of department, Chris Partington, also sits on the Court of Protection panel of deputies.
Commitment to exceptional client service
At Slater Heelis, we pride ourselves on building open and honest relationships with our clients. Our expert power of attorney solicitors are happy to arrange an appointment at one of our high street branches, or we can also arrange a home visit where required.
Several members of the partners within Slater Heelis’ Private Client department are also active members of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). These national bodies promote a stronger regulatory framework and code of conduct for solicitors that specialise in trust, estate and inheritance planning.