Powers of Attorney Solicitors
At Redkite Solicitors, we believe in planning ahead. Every day, our Power of Attorney solicitors help clients to safeguard their assets and protect their welfare in the face of degenerative diseases, sudden illness, old age and loss of mental capacity. Powers of Attorney are also often set up when people are going to be out of the country for long periods of time, such as people in the armed forces.
As we grow into our senior years, conditions such as Alzheimer’s or serious illness can pose a threat to our ability to make informed decisions for ourselves, often referred to as ‘lacking mental capacity’.
Concerns regarding how our interests will be protected during this time are natural; after all: if you are incapable of making key decisions about your welfare and financial affairs, who will handle matters on your behalf and make decisions in your best interests?
What is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is when you sign a document and lodge it with the Office of the Public Guardian which confirms that a specific person has agreed to make decisions for you in the event you are unable to make them for yourself.
If you know someone who you are concerned may soon have difficulty making decisions in their own best interests, you should encourage them to put a Power of Attorney in place as soon as possible. This is because, to be able to put a Power of Attorney in place, the person doing so MUST have mental capacity at that time.
If someone loses the ability to make their own decisions, and there is no Power of Attorney in place, this can cause a multitude of problems from everyone involved. In these circumstances an application has to be made to the Court of Protection which can take months and has high costs associated with it.
Why choose Redkite Solicitors for Powers of Attorney?
At Redkite Solicitors, we’re dedicated to protecting your interests. With decades of specialist experience, we’ll help you appoint a Power of Attorney with minimal fuss, keeping the process as simple and straightforward as possible. When you instruct a member of our friendly team, we will provide a safe environment in which you can speak your mind and voice your concerns freely. From there, we will determine the best approach for protecting your welfare and safeguarding your assets.
Our specialist solicitors regularly assist clients from all walks of life to set up their Power of Attorney, so you can rest assured that no situation is too complex. Many of our clients find it practical to create this document at the same time as drafting their Will. If this is something you are interested in, our expert team will be here to help you plan for the future, whatever it may hold.
How can Redkite Solicitors help you?
Our team of specialist Power of Attorney solicitors can advise and assist you through the following:
- Drafting financial Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Drafting health & welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Registering Enduring Powers of Attorney
- Advising Attorneys already appointed
- Power of Attorney Disputes
What types of Powers of Attorney can I make?
There are several options when it comes to setting up a Power of Attorney. Your choice will depend on your unique circumstances; but our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you as to which option is most suited to your needs.
General Power of Attorney
Setting up a General Power of Attorney is something that you may consider if you need to temporarily give control of your financial affairs to someone you trust, perhaps if you are going to be working abroad for a period of time or you know you will be in hospital for the next few months.
While the person you appoint as a General Power of Attorney will be able to make decisions regarding matters such as your property or savings, they will not be able to do so on issues concerning your health and welfare.
A General Power of Attorney can only be prepared and used while you still have mental capacity. Should you lose mental capacity, the General Power of Attorney will no longer be valid.
Lasting Power of Attorney (‘LPA’)
An LPA allows you to nominate one or more people you trust to make decisions on your behalf. You might choose to complete an LPA as a safeguard for the future or you might need one in the immediate future for some reason. Either way, an LPA is an extremely useful document which gives you peace of mind, as well as saving time, cost and hassle.
By obtaining a Lasting Power of Attorney, you can rest assured that, regardless of your mental capabilities in the future, if it is needed, your matters will be handled by someone you know and trust to do what’s right by you.
When our solicitors draft an LPA, you will have the choice between:
- A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Financial Affairs
This grants authority to your selected representative to handle all property and financial matters; from selling your home to dealing with any payments you have to make.
- A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Health and Welfare
This allows the Attorney (your representative) to make decisions on issues regarding your healthcare and wellbeing, where you live and how you are cared for.
With 10 high-street offices across South and West Wales, and Gloucestershire, a helping hand is never too far away.
For tailored advice and assistance in setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney, get in touch with our solicitors today.