Have you considered what might happen if you or a family member were no longer able to look after yourself or make decisions either through illness, injury or old age?
You can put in place Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) in which you appoint people of your choice to manage your affairs (known as an attorney) either now or should you become unable to do this yourself. LPAs can only be made by someone with the capacity to fully understand the implications of what they are doing.
Although it may be difficult for you to think about, putting an LPA in place will make things easier for you and your loved ones should you require assistance or something happen to you. Our specialist team will explain what is involved and discuss the options with you.
What if there is no LPA in place and you need to make decisions for someone else?
If a family member or close friend has lost the ability to make decisions about their own affairs and they have not created an LPA, we can help you apply to the Court of Protection to become their ‘deputy’ so you can manage their affairs on their behalf. Or if you prefer, we can take on the role of professional deputy, reducing the stress you could face making decisions for someone else.
What if a person lacks the capacity to make their LPAs or is unable to make their own decisions on property and financial affairs or health and welfare matters? In these circumstances and others, a friend or family member may choose to apply to the Court of Protection for an order which entitles them to act on behalf of that person. This order is known as a Deputyship Order. The Court of Protection is a court that specifically deals with making these decisions on a person’s behalf.
If there is no Will, we can also apply to the Court of Protection for a Statutory Will. The instructions included will be based on the evidence surrounding that person’s life and family and the wishes they would have made if they were able to.
