Lasting Powers of Attorney

Did you know, approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year or that there are currently 850,000 people with dementia in the UK.

If you lost your mental capacity to make decisions, who would you want to look after your affairs?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document that lets you give someone else the legal authority to act on your behalf and make decisions for you when you no longer wish to, or when you lack the mental capacity to do so.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney available:

• a Health and Welfare one which allows your attorneys to make decisions regarding medical treatment, accepting or refusing types of health care and whether or not you continue to live in your own home or a care home;
• a Property and Financial Affairs one which allows your attorneys to make decisions about paying bills, operating your bank accounts or even selling your home

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, your family do not have the legal authority to deal with your affairs, regardless of whether they are your next of kin. This could mean that the Local Authority or the Courts make these decisions instead.

It’s never too early to make a Lasting Power of Attorney as you never know when it might be needed. Once you’ve made it, it won’t expire until you pass away.

At Williamsons we use our expertise in this area to guide you through the various decisions that need to be made when making a Lasting Power of Attorney. We will complete all of the numerous forms for you, taking the stress out of ensuring that the legal formalities are complied with. Contact us today on 01482 323697 to attend a free half an hour consultation at our Hull, Beverley, Bridlington or Driffield office.