Powers of Attorney allows you to plan ahead by choosing one or more people to act and make decisions on your behalf. You choose what they can and can’t do and in what circumstances.
There are various types of powers of attorney including:
- Ordinary Powers of Attorney - Allow you to appoint someone to deal with a particular situation (e.g. the sale of your house while you are abroad). It ceases should you lose capacity to deal with your affairs.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney (Property and Financial Affairs) - The people you appoint can manage your finances and property when you lack mental capacity (and if you choose even when you have capacity) to buy and sell property, pay bills, deal with your tax affairs, operate your bank accounts, and claim benefits on your behalf.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney (Health and Welfare) - The people you appoint can only make decisions about your health and welfare when you lack the capacity to make them for yourself. They can make decisions about your care, and they may consent to or refuse medical treatment.
- Enduring Powers of Attorney - Can no longer be made however existing documents can still be used.
Powers of Attorney can only be made while you have capacity to understand the documents and the implications of making them. If someone you know no longer has capacity to make a Power of Attorney we can help you to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed to act on their behalf.
How can we help?
We can advise donors and attorneys on any aspects of powers of attorney, including:
- Making a Power of Attorney
- Acting as Certificate Provider
- Acting as Attorney
- Registering a Power of Attorney
- Revoking and amending a Power of Attorney
Why choose us?
Creating a Power of Attorney is an exercise which requires both expert legal skills and a close knowledge of the client's family and business arrangements. We take the time to get to know our clients, to understand the issues that matter to them and to work closely with them in planning for their and their family's futures.
To find out more
If you would like to know more about Powers of Attorney, please contact Kerry Young by emailing kerry.young@dmhstallard.com or by calling her on 01293 605074.
Alternatively please speak to Cristina Reynolds by emailing cris.reynolds@dmhstallard.com or by calling her on 01273 329833, or speak to your usual contact in the Private Client Team.
