Legal Matters for Carents: Navigating Key Documents & Responsibilities

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person to appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf. There are two types of LPA, one for health and welfare and another for property and finances. 

The main difference is when they were created. An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) was used before the Mental Capacity Act 2005, covering property and finances. It can still be used if it was made before October 1, 2007. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can cover health, welfare, property, and finances.

Lasting power of attorney means creating a legal arrangement that grants a person the authority to handle your affairs. This could include making decisions about your finances, health, and personal welfare. The arrangement is “lasting” because it remains valid even if you lose the mental capacity to make decisions yourself.

To get a lasting power of attorney, you need to:

• Choose your attorney(s): Decide who you trust to make decisions on your behalf.
• Complete the LPA form: You can complete it with help from a solicitor or download it from the government’s website specific to your country within the UK.
• Sign the form: This needs to be done in the presence of a witness. 
• Register the LPA: Submit the completed form to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for registration.