What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (or LPA) is a legal document which appoints someone to make decisions for you in the event that you lose mental capacity to make those decisions for yourself.
Who needs a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Most people will need a Lasting Power of Attorney, however in particular:
- Those in retirement;
- Elderly, single individuals; or
- People with religious or medical treatment preferences.
When should I create a Lasting Power of Attorney?
There is no better time than today to create a Lasting Power of Attorney. Leave it in our hands and we’ll take the hassle out of yours.
How many types of Lasting Power of Attorney exist?
There are 2 types of LPA:
- LPA Health and Welfare; and
- LPA Property and Financial Affairs
For people looking to make an LPA, both types are advisable, however you can equally select the one which shall be most relevant to you.
What is the process for creating a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Once you have decided to prepare your Lasting Power of Attorney, we shall arrange a meeting with you to take your instructions. We’ll then prepare a draft of the Lasting Power of Attorney and send it to you to review. If you’d like us to register it straightaway, we’ll submit it to the Office of the Public Guardian.
What information should I prepare before I start?
Ideally, it would be useful to think about what decisions you would like someone to make for you in the event that you lose mental capacity. Secondly, you should think about the person or persons you would like to make decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
What is the OPG?
The OPG stands for the Office of the Public Guardian. It is a state body and acts as a repository of LPAs. Once the LPA Forms have been completed, they will need to be sent to the OPG in order to be registered. Only once the LPA Forms have been registered with the OPG, can they be used.
Does the OPG charge a fee for registration?
Yes, the OPG charges a fee of £82.00 to register a LPA, which is on top of our legal fees. To receive a full breakdown of costs, contact one of our Private Client Lawyers to receive a quote and begin your journey with us.
How much are legal fees for a Lasting Power of Attorney?
We like to offer fixed prices for all of our Private Client Law services where we can. Our Private Client Lawyers’ fees for Lasting Powers of Attorney begin from £299.99. This includes preparing and registering your Lasting Power of Attorney, however it does not include the additional fee payable to the Office of the Public Guardian, which at the time of writing is £82.00. There is no VAT on our legal fees.