Lasting Power of Attorney

What is it?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf. This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA.

There are 2 types of LPA and you can choose to make one or both:

1.       Health and Welfare Power of Attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:

• your daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating

• medical care

• moving into a care home

• life-sustaining treatment

It can only be used when you’re unable to make your own decisions.

2.       Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for you, for example:

• managing a bank or building society account

• paying bills

• collecting benefits or a pension

• selling your home

It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your permission.

How can I set up a Lasting Power of Attorney?

The Government website allows you to either fill in the forms online or download the forms.

www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/make-lasting-power

You will need to:

• Choose your attorney (you can have more than one)

• Fill in the forms to appoint them as an attorney

• Register your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (this can take up to 20 weeks)

• It costs £82 to register an LPA unless you get a reduction or exemption

Help deciding if you should make a Lasting Power of Attorney

Contact the Office of the Public Guardian if you need help. customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk  Telephone: 0300 456 0300 or consult the comprehensive guide on the Age UK website.

This advice is primarily from one of our trusted resources, the gov.uk website.  PWCAC are unable to offer support to complete Power of Attorney forms, but we are happy to

check forms have been completed correctly before they are submitted.

We are OPEN for face-to-face advice (appointments and drop-ins) Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 1:30.

If you need advice about welfare benefits, housing and homelessness, debt, relationship breakdown, consumer issues or anything else, get in touch:   

info@pwadvice.org | 01892 838619    94 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6DP