Lasting Powers of Attorney

Most people assume a Lasting Power of Attorney is something you only need to think about when you're older. In reality, it's something anyone over 18 can benefit from having in place, at any stage of life.

Having one in place means the decision about who helps you has already been made by you, on your own terms.

How we can help with lasting powers of attorney.

Without one, the people closest to you may have no legal right to step in, even if you'd want them to. Sorting out the authority to act retrospectively is a much more difficult and stressful process for everyone involved.

Property & Financial Affairs

Covers your bank accounts, investments, bills, property and other financial matters.

Health & Welfare

Covers decisions about your medical care, where you live and how you are looked after.

Not Just for Later Life

A safeguard for anyone over 18, especially if you run a business or manage significant responsibilities.

Setting Up Your LPA

Must be arranged while you still have capacity. We guide you through every step.

Get in touch

Most people assume a Lasting Power of Attorney is something you only need to think about when you're older. In reality, it's something anyone over 18 can benefit from having in place, at any stage of life.

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you choose, in advance, who would have the authority to act on your behalf if you were ever unable to manage things yourself. That might be because of illness, an accident, or simply because you've reached a point where you'd like some support. Whatever the reason, having one in place means the decision about who helps you has already been made by you, on your own terms.

What a Lasting Power of Attorney covers

There are two types, and many people choose to put both in place at the same time:

Property and financial affairs

This covers decisions about your bank accounts, investments, bills, property and other financial matters. It can be used while you still have capacity if you'd like help managing things, or it can be held in reserve for the future.

Health and welfare

This covers decisions about your medical care, where you live and how you are looked after day to day. It can only be used if you're unable to make those decisions yourself. It allows you to choose the people you trust to make the choices you would have made.

You choose who acts as your attorney, and you can appoint more than one person. You can also set out any preferences or restrictions you'd like them to follow.

It's not just for later life

One of the most common misconceptions about Lasting Powers of Attorney is that they're only relevant to older people. They're not. An unexpected accident or a serious health diagnosis can affect anyone at any age; and if you run a business or manage significant financial responsibilities, having someone with the legal authority to step in at short notice can be essential.

Once an LPA is in place, it simply sits in the background as a safeguard. Many people never need to use it. But knowing it's there, and that the right person is named, brings real peace of mind.

You need to set this up yourself

An important point worth knowing: a Lasting Power of Attorney has to be arranged while you still have the mental capacity to make decisions. It isn't something a family member can set up on your behalf. If you've been putting it off, the time to act is now, while it's straightforward.

If you're already acting as someone's attorney and you'd like guidance on your responsibilities, we can help with that too. You might find our page on advice for attorneys, trustees and executors useful.

What happens if there's no Lasting Power of Attorney

Sometimes capacity is lost before a Lasting Power of Attorney has been put in place, after a sudden illness or accident, for example. When that happens, families often assume they can simply step in and manage things, but without an LPA they have no automatic legal right to do so.

In that situation, the way to take responsibility for someone's affairs is to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as their deputy. A deputy manages the person's finances on their behalf, under the ongoing supervision of the Court of Protection and the Office of the Public Guardian.

Becoming a deputy is more involved than acting under an LPA. The application takes time, it brings continuing duties and reporting requirements, and it usually costs more than putting an LPA in place would have. It's entirely manageable, though, and we guide families through every stage, from the initial application to understanding what's expected of a deputy once they're appointed.

It's also the clearest reason to consider a Lasting Power of Attorney sooner rather than later. Setting one up now is the simplest way to spare the people you love this extra step at what is often an already difficult time.

Talking it through

We're happy to talk through your options before you commit to anything. We see clients at our offices in Lowestoft, Norwich and Great Yarmouth, and we also visit people at home, in care homes and in hospital when that's easier.

Get in touch and we'll take it from there.

Transparent about fees.

Putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place is straightforward, and so is our pricing. Our LPA fees are fixed, so you'll know the cost before you commit.

Before any work begins, we'll give you a clear written estimate setting out our fees and any disbursements, so you know exactly where you stand. If anything changes the likely cost, we'll talk it through with you before going any further.

View our private client fees