Help with Power of Attorney

Please note: this is a chargeable service. Details of the fees are included at the bottom of the page.

We all wonder, occasionally, what would happen if we had an accident or an illness that meant we couldn’t make our own decisions any longer. Who would make those decisions for us?

With a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), you can appoint one or more trusted individuals to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf, should the worst happen.

A Will vs. a Power of Attorney

Many people believe that having a Will is all they need to safeguard their future. While a Will is essential for planning what happens after you pass away, it does nothing to protect you if you lose the ability to make decisions while you’re still alive.

This is where a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is crucial.

What’s the Difference?

What Happens If You Don’t Have an LPA?

If you lose capacity without an LPA in place, your loved ones could face significant challenges in managing your affairs.

• Decisions about your health and welfare:
  Without an LPA, decisions about your medical care, living arrangements, and day-to-day welfare will be made by social services or other professionals. They are required to act in your best interests, but this may not align with your personal preferences or those of your loved ones.
• Decisions about your property and finances:
  Your family or friends will not have automatic rights to manage your finances or access your accounts. Instead, they will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order to make decisions on your behalf.

Why is this a problem?

• The application process is lengthy, complex, and costly.
• It can take months before a decision is made, leaving your loved ones unable to act in the meantime.
• Deputies appointed by the Court may not be the people you would have chosen to manage your affairs.

By setting up an LPA in advance, you can avoid these complications and ensure that the people you trust are empowered to make decisions in line with your wishes.

Types of LPA

There are two types of LPA:

1. Health and Welfare
• Decisions about medical care, moving into a care home, and life-sustaining treatment.
2. Property and Financial Affairs
• Managing accounts, paying bills, collecting benefits, or selling your home.

You can choose to make one type or both, depending on your needs.

Our Service

Our Lasting Power of Attorney service is available to adults living in the Western Bay region.

Our dedicated Lasting Power of Attorney Advisor will:

• Help you understand the process.
• Support you in choosing your attorneys.
• Ensure everything is in place before the document(s) are registered.

Our Fees

• Help to draw up one Lasting Power of Attorney – £210
• Help to draw up both Lasting Power of Attorneys – £285

Please note: The fees above are for our service and do not include the Court fees for registering the documents with the Office of the Public Guardian:

• £82 for one LPA, or
• £164 for both LPAs.

If you are on a means-tested benefit, you may qualify for fee exemption from the Court fees.

Take the Next Step

Sign up for a FREE consultation to get started on your Lasting Power of Attorney today.

Call us on 01792 648866 or email enquiries@agecymruwestglamorgan.org.uk

Don’t leave your future to chance – ensure your wishes are respected and your loved ones are supported.