A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more Attorneys to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions.

There are two types of LPA's...

Health and Welfare

If some day you become unable to look after your own personal welfare, i.e. your healthcare and social needs, your appointed Attorneys will have the legal authority to act for you.

For example, you Attorneys may make decisions about where you live, what you do on a daily basis, who cares for you and even down to what you wear, to name a few.

Property and Financial Affairs

Power of Attorney is a legal document granting authority to another to perform specified acts to handle your financial affairs on behalf of another due to physical or mental incapacity.

For example, should you have a stroke and are unable to communicate, the nominated person can make decisions about your financial affairs.

LPA's are very important and useful documents to obtain...

If you were to lose capacity and you did not have LPA's set up, your loved ones may have to go through the Court of Protection, which can take up to two years, cost thousands and have numerous visits in front of a judge.

Bank accounts including jointly held accounts may be frozen and people who you do not know and that may not make the correct decisions on your behalf may be put in charge of your affairs.