Lasting Powers of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney enables the person making it (the donor) to give someone else (the attorney) the legal right to deal with their affairs. Two types of LPA are available. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA, which gives the attorney the authority to deal with the donor’s finances and property, and a Health and Welfare LPA which allows them to make decisions relating to the donor’s healthcare, welfare and in some cases end of life treatment.

Many people are concerned about what will happen to them in the event that they cannot make decisions for themselves through a loss of mental capacity. With a growing elderly population, people are much more aware of the possible effects of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, strokes and other conditions which can cause a loss of capacity.

Where an LPA is not in place, difficult problems can be caused for family and loved ones when a person loses mental capacity. Furthermore, it is not only the elderly who should consider LPAs, because accident or injury can lead to loss of capacity at any age.