A Lasting Power of Attorney — commonly known as an LPA — allows you to appoint trusted people to make certain decisions on your behalf.
Evans Legacy Planning helps you understand the two types of LPA, choose suitable attorneys and work through the arrangement process clearly and carefully.
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people — your attorneys — to make certain decisions for you.
You must make an LPA while you have mental capacity. Putting the arrangements in place before they are urgently needed gives you more control over who would act for you.
LPAs apply in England and Wales and must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can be used.
Official GOV.UK LPA guidance →The two LPAs perform different roles. Many people consider putting both in place.
This can allow your chosen attorneys to deal with financial and property matters on your behalf, subject to the authority given in the document.
This can allow your chosen attorneys to make certain health and welfare decisions when you cannot make those decisions yourself.
Losing the ability to make certain decisions does not automatically give a spouse, partner or adult child the legal authority to deal with everything for you.
An LPA allows you to decide in advance who you trust and gives you the opportunity to record preferences and instructions where appropriate.
If someone loses mental capacity without suitable arrangements in place, relatives do not automatically receive authority to manage all of that person's affairs.
In some circumstances, a family member may need to apply to the Court of Protection for authority to deal with financial matters.
That route can involve more administration, time and uncertainty than arranging an LPA while you are able to make your own choices.
An LPA allows you to choose the people you trust while you have capacity.
If no suitable authority exists later, someone else may need to ask the court for permission to act.
Put My Arrangements in PlaceYour attorneys may be making important decisions, so choosing them deserves careful thought.
Choose people you trust to act in your interests and respect your wishes.
Consider whether the person has the time, judgement and ability to deal with the decisions involved.
You can appoint more than one attorney and decide, within the LPA rules, how they should make decisions.
You may also be able to nominate replacement attorneys if an original attorney can no longer act.
An LPA can contain relevant preferences or instructions, provided they are suitable and correctly drafted.
Clear arrangements can help family members understand who has authority and how decisions should be approached.
A structured process designed to reduce confusion and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Discuss your circumstances and explain what each type of LPA covers.
Consider who should act and whether replacement attorneys are appropriate.
Work through the information and decisions needed for the documents.
Follow the required signing, witnessing and certificate-provider process.
The completed LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
The Office of the Public Guardian currently charges a separate registration fee for each LPA.
These government registration fees are separate from any Evans Legacy Planning service fee.
Check current GOV.UK registration fees →Tick anything that applies to you. This is a simple discussion tool rather than legal advice.
Tick any relevant points above.
The more responsibility you carry, the more important it can become to consider who could act if you could not.
Property, mortgages, rental income and ongoing financial commitments can make future decision-making particularly important.
Rental property can involve tenants, bills, maintenance, borrowing and management decisions that should not be ignored.
Business owners should consider whether their personal and business affairs require different or carefully structured authority.
Ask the Evans Legacy Planning team about any finance or flexible payment options currently available for suitable estate-planning services.
Availability, eligibility and terms may vary. Details should be confirmed before proceeding.Evans Legacy Planning is based in Cardiff and supports suitable clients throughout South Wales and wider England and Wales.
Telephone and video appointments can make it easier to arrange LPAs without unnecessary travel.
View the latest independently published Evans Legacy Planning reviews on Trustpilot.
Start with a straightforward conversation about your circumstances, the people you trust and the decisions you would want them to be able to make.
Enter your details below and one of our team will contact you to arrange your complimentary Family Legacy Review.
We will help you understand whether your current wills, trusts, LPAs or estate planning provide the right level of protection for your property, family wealth and future wishes.
Note: Your details will only be used to arrange your review and will never be shared.
