Lasting Powers of Attorney Solicitors in Plymouth

They are legal document which give powers appointing someone else to manage your affairs if you become too unwell in the future to manage them yourself. There are two kinds, one covering financial affairs and one covering health and welfare decisions.

An attorney’s authority depends on the type of LPA you create. A property and financial affairs LPA allows them to handle financial matters such as paying bills, managing bank accounts, dealing with investments and maintaining property. A health and welfare LPA enables them to make choices about medical care, treatment and living arrangements if you cannot make those decisions yourself. Both types are designed to make sure your affairs are managed smoothly and in your best interests.

Yes. You can appoint several attorneys and decide whether they must act together or can act independently. For example, you may wish your children to act jointly when making major financial decisions but separately when dealing with day-to-day matters. You can also appoint replacement attorneys to take over if one of your original attorneys can no longer act, giving you extra protection.

The best time to make an LPA is now, while you have full mental capacity. Many people think LPAs are only needed in later life, but unexpected illness or accidents can leave anyone unable to make decisions. Once you lose capacity, it’s too late to make an LPA, and your family would have to go through the Court of Protection instead. Creating an LPA in advance is a simple way to make sure you stay in control of your future.

If you lose capacity without having LPAs in place, your family or friends will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order to act on your behalf. This process can take up to a year and is far more expensive than setting up LPAs in advance. It also means the court, rather than you, decides who manages your affairs. In the meantime, your family may be unable to access your money or make important care decisions.

Once we have your instructions, it usually takes around 2 to 4 weeks to prepare the documents for signing. After submission, the Office of the Public Guardian takes approximately 4 to 5 months to register an LPA. During this time, we’ll stay in contact with you and keep you updated on progress.

Life-sustaining treatment includes medical interventions such as resuscitation, artificial feeding or ventilation that keep you alive. Within your health and welfare LPA, you can choose whether your attorneys should have the power to make these decisions on your behalf. We’ll discuss this carefully with you so that your wishes are clearly recorded and respected.

A certificate provider is an independent person who confirms that you understand the LPA and are making it freely. They can be a professional, such as a solicitor or doctor, or someone who has known you personally for at least two years. The role is to ensure there’s no pressure or misunderstanding during the process.

Yes, as long as you still have mental capacity, you can revoke your LPA or create new ones at any time. If your circumstances change, for example if you marry, divorce or wish to appoint different attorneys, we can help you make the necessary updates to keep your arrangements current and effective.