More Than Just Forms: The Importance of Having a Legal Professional Draft Your Lasting Powers of Attorney
More Than Just Forms: The Importance of Having a Legal Professional Draft Your Lasting Powers of Attorney
Thinking about putting Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) in place and not sure where to start?
Planning for the future involves more than simply managing your property and finances. It also ensures that your day-to-day affairs, health and personal welfare are taken care of in the event that you are unable to make those decisions for yourself.
So What Exactly Is A Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney often referred to as an LPA enables you to appoint the people you trust to make decisions on your behalf when you are no longer able to do so yourself. They are known as Attorneys.
There are two types of LPAs one that takes care of your property and finances and one that takes care of your health and welfare decisions.
Why Legal Expertise is Key When Creating LPAs:
Preparing both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA with the assistance of a Legal Professional, not only ensures that they are tailored to reflect your wishes and best interests but that they are clearly drafted to avoid any confusion and once registered are legally valid documents.
Other Key Considerations: -
- Clarity & Legal Accuracy – LPAs are not just a form filling exercise. Specific rules must be followed to ensure the documents are valid. A Legal Professional will ensure that the documents meet the legal requirements, mitigating errors that can occur with wording, signing and when the documents are witnessed. These errors contribute to timely delays and even rejection by the Office of The Public Guardian when the documents are sent for registration.
- Choosing the Right Attorneys – Appointing the right people to make decisions on your behalf is crucial. A Legal Professional can help you carefully consider who you wish to appoint, understand any restrictions you may want to put in place along with instructions that your Attorneys must follow. They can also advise on the differences between acting jointly and jointly and severally and the implications thereafter. They can also advise on Replacement Attorneys to ensure arrangements remain effective if circumstances change.
- Preventing Disputes & Misunderstanding – A Legal Professional ensures that your LPAs are crystal clear and watertight, protecting your Attorneys from challenge and your family from conflict.
- Guidance Through Registration and Beyond – A Legal Professional will handle the whole process from drafting right through to registration with the Office of the Public Guardian. They ensure the documents are filed and readily available when they are needed. A Legal Professional will also advise on when Registration should take place and provide advice regarding updating and reviewing the documents should your situation change.
- Peace of Mind – The support of a Legal Professional when putting LPAs in place provides you with long term reassurance that your affairs will be managed exactly as you wished.
Finally…
A Lasting Power of Attorney is one of the most valuable protections you can have in place for your future.
By using a Legal Professional who is experienced and trained to prepare and register the documents, you ensure that they are drafted correctly, are legally sound and in line with your wishes.
At Letchers Solicitors we understand that everyone’s situation is different and that is why our team of experienced, dedicated and approachable professionals are here to listen to your individual needs.
Contact one of our legal professionals today on
01425 471424 to begin the process of putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place.
Recent Posts
