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ARTICLE · 15 FEBRUARY 2015

Capacity And Decision-Making

RWK Goodman
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In the event that a person becomes unable to manage their own affairs it is very difficult for those around them to deal with assets and interact with institutions on their behalf.

United KingdomFamily and Matrimonial
Ian Bradshaw
Ian Bradshaw

In the event that a person becomes unable to manage their own affairs it is very difficult for those around them to deal with assets and interact with institutions on their behalf unless that person has appointed attorneys in a Lasting Power of Attorney ("LPA"). Without a LPA it is necessary to gain the permission of the court to appoint a deputy to look after a person's affairs for them which is both time consuming and expensive.

Lasting Powers of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document in which a person ("the donor") gives someone the ability to make decisions on their behalf. Importantly, once the LPA is registered at the Office of the Public Guardian, the authority of an attorney, appointed by an LPA, continues even in the event that the donor becomes unable to manage his own affairs.

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