Lasting Power of Attorney

For Power of Attorney services in London and Nationwide, Ola Leslie Solicitors offer the following:

 

 

  • Reasonable and Affordable Fixed Fees
  • Speed & Efficiency
  • Professionalism
  • Qualified solicitors dealing with you directly

 

 

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document made by a Donor that allows another person (an attorney) to make decisions about the Donor’s health and welfare and/or about their property and affairs.

The document can be prepared at any time and will provide the attorney with the power to act at any time in future on anything that relates to the above. This may have to occur if the Donor does not wish to make decisions anymore or in the unfortunate event of them being mentally incapable of being able to do so.

Types of Lasting Powers of Attorney

A Donor can either make one of the following, or both:

 

  • A Property and Affairs LPA. This provides the attorney with the authority to make decisions in relation to the Donor’s property and financial affairs.
  • A Personal Welfare LPA. This type of LPA provides the attorney with the authority make decisions about the Donor’s healthcare and personal welfare. These decisions can only be taken if the Donor lacks mental capacity, and may include decisions on whether to accept or refuse “life sustaining treatment”.

 

Donor Criteria

A Donor can be any person over the age of 18 with the capacity to understand the nature and meaning of an LPA and is able to make an LPA.

An LPA is a personal document and a Donor cannot make it jointly with another person. Any person wishing to grant a Lasting Power of Attorney must do so separately in all circumstances.

Who can be an Attorney?

As with a Donor, an Attorney can be any person over the age of 18 who has mental capacity. An Attorney cannot be bankrupt.

Being an Attorney is an important responsibility and a Donor must ensure that the Attorney is willing to be appointed and then able to make any decisions. The Attorney must have regard to the guidance that is set out in in the Code of Practice to the Mental Capacity Act and must only act or make decisions in a Donor’s best interest.

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a very important document and involves a lot of careful consideration before a Donor can make a decision as to whether to grant one to an Attorney. The process adopts a specific legal procedure which must be followed precisely. Ola Leslie Solicitors can assist you with passing your affairs over to an Attorney at a reasonable fixed fee. You can meet with us in person at our offices to provide us with your instructions, otherwise we can communicate with you by telephone, e-mail, skype and via sms.

Please call us on 0207 183 0084 or email us on info@olaleslie.com for a fixed fee quotation and to ask us about any reservations or queries that you may have; we are always happy to assist.