Appointing Power of Attorney

Do you have a bank account, saving/investments or own a property?

Lasting Power of Attorney

If you have money or property and you became unable to deal with your affairs because of an accident or illness, your assets may become frozen.  If you had a stroke or suffered from Alzheimer’s, your family may have to apply to the courts to deal with your affairs.  This could be very expensive, may take a year or more to complete and a large sum of money may have to be deposited with the courts!

The appointment of Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document you complete that gives somebody of your choice, the power to deal with your affairs if for any physical or mental reason you were unable to.

There are two quite separate appointment documents: one for property & affairs; the other for health & welfare.

If you appoint a Lasting Power of Attorney now you can appoint somebody you trust to deal with your affairs on your behalf if you need them to.  This saves any delay in dealing with your affairs and will stop the State appointing a receiver to act on your behalf.

The appointment of Lasting Power of Attorney is the only method of giving authority to deal with your affairs even after mental incapacity such as a stroke.

But you can only appoint whilst in good health - so you need to act as soon as possible.

General/Ordinary Power of Attorney

There is a simpler document that will grant your attorney power to deal with your affairs.  A General/Ordinary Power of Attorney is quicker, simpler and cheaper to construct, but it is limited in its power; for instance, if mental capacity were lost, this kind of Power would not suffice, and a Lasting Power of Attorney would need to be appointed, providing the donor retains sufficient mental capacity to make such an appointment.

Call Legacy Legal Services

Will Writing; Trusts; Estate Planning

Tel: 0800 959 6171