Private clients
Powers of Attorney
The relatively simple procedure of making a Power of Attorney enables you to appoint the person of your choice to look after your affairs in the event of serious physical illness of loss of mental capacity in the future. This something we all should do to. It could save our families a great deal of concern and unnecessary expense in the years ahead.
Without an up to date Power of Attorney in place, if we become incapable of managing our own affairs, our near relations will have to go through protracted and expensive Court procedures to be put in the same position as an Attorney under a Power. Leaving aside the cost, without a Power of Attorney, the delay in arranging a representative through the Office of the Public Guardian would, at a distressing and difficult time for the family, be extremely inconvenient.
The law in this area changed in 2007. Since October 2007, the new Lasting Powers of Attorney regime provide for the appointment of a representative to make decisions about ‘health and welfare’ separately to property and financial affairs. These can be linked to issues arising under ‘living wills’.
Consult us for more information about Lasting Powers of Attorney or bringing up to date Enduring Powers made before 2008.