LEGAL MATTERS
Young people ‘should consider
lasting powers of attorney’
By Helen Hutt, Solicitor, Wills, Trusts & Probate at Grindeys llp
T
he government wants a broader range of people
including the young to consider lasting powers
of attorney (LPA).
LPAs are legal documents that enable you to
nominate someone you trust to make decisions about
your welfare and financial affairs if you lose mental
capacity at some point in the future.
There are more than 700,000 LPAs registered in the
UK. More than 90% of them are for people aged over
60 and more than half are for people over the age of 80.
Justice Minister Lord McNally said: “Making a
lasting power of attorney is as important as making a
will – it can save people unnecessary trauma and
expense and makes sure their own wishes are followed
whatever happens.
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“It is crucial for people of all ages, yet very few under
60s have one registered and we need that to change.”
LPAs have to be registered with the Office of the
Public Guardian, which oversees the process and
ensures that safeguards are in place to prevent
vulnerable people from being exploited.
The government is now consulting on ways to
improve the system of registering LPAs. It has put
forward a number of proposals including digitising the
application process, simplifying the forms and
improving the supervision of those appointed to manage
people’s affairs.
The new proposals are expected to come into effect
next year. They follow a reduction in the LPA
application fee from £130 to £110, which came into
effect in October.
LPAs are very important documents which can have
a major effect on your life and how decisions are made
on your behalf. They need to be drawn up correctly with
expert help from a solicitor to ensure they fully reflect
your wishes and protect your interests.
If drawn up properly, they can give you the peace of
mind that comes from knowing that whatever happens
in the future, your interests will be fully protected by
people you know and trust.
Please contact the Wills, Trusts & Probate
team on 01782 846441 if you would like
more information about lasting powers of
attorney.
Inheritance tax planning
Probate and estate administration
Lasting powers of attorney
For more information please call:
01782 846 441
www.grindeys.co.uk
46 December 2013/ January 2014
Date for your diary:
FREE Wills Trusts &
Probate afternoon at
Stone House Hotel, 2pm
– 4pm on Wednesday 5
March 2014. See events
at www.grindeys.co.uk