Applying to register a Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives someone else the authority to help you make decisions, or to make them on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.  You can only set one up while you have mental capacity.

There are two types of LPA:

* Property and Finances

* Health and Welfare

You can have the same Attorney for both types but you have to apply on different forms for each type.  You can also appoint different people as Attorneys.

Property and Finances LPA

This allows your Attorney to make financial decisions and take financial actions for you, such as:

* paying your mortgage

* managing your bank account

* paying bills

* arranging repairs to your property

* selling your home

You can choose which decisions your Attorney can make.  The LPA for Property and Finances can be used while you still have mental capacity if you wish.  Your Attorney must keep their own money separate and keep accounts of how they use your money.

Health and Welfare LPA

This LPA can only be used once you have lost mental capacity.  It covers decisions relating to your care, such as:

* where you should live

* your medical care

* your social care

* your diet

* who you should have contact with

When setting up an LPA for Health and Welfare, you will need to decide if you also want to allow your Attorney to make decisions about life-saving treatments, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

How long will this take?

We will try and obtain all the information required at your initial appointment.  However, if this is not possible we will prepare as much of the document(s) as we can and finalise them once the remaining information has been provided.

As soon as they are all signed we will send them to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for registration.  This process takes about eight weeks.  After four weeks will be be given a registration date by the OPG and we will confirm this to you in writing.  Once your registered LPA(s) arrive we will send the original to your first (or only) Attorney, with a copy going to yourself as the Donor and copies to any other Attorneys you may have appointed.

How much does this service cost?

Single LPA (one person) £400 + VAT (£480) - this can be either Health & Welfare or Property & Finances

Both LPAs (one person) £550 + VAT (£660)

Single LPA (two people) £600 + VAT (£720) - this can be two Health & Welfare, two Property & Finances or one of each

Both LPAs (two people) £700 + VAT (£840)

Disbursements:

Registration Fee for the Office of the Public Guardian  - £82 per document and £7.20 per person for an electronic ID check (this is required for all Clients).

If we need to seek an opinion from the Client's GP regarding their Testamentary Capacity, or capacity with regard to making a Lasting Power of Attorney, there will be an additional fee from the Surgery to pay for the assessment.

Our Wills and Probate Team 

Goran Vucicevic – Chartered Legal Executive / Director

Lauren Floyd - Solicitor

Richard J. Porter - Wills and Probate Paralegal

Jane Uglow - Legal Assistant

Charlotte Stokes - Legal Assistant