Lasting Powers of Attorney Solicitors

Making sure that decisions about your future are in safe hands

Do you worry about what would happen to your money or property if you became unable to manage them yourself?

Do you wish to ensure that someone you trust is able to deal with this management at a time when you cannot see to your affairs?

If you answer yes to these questions, you should consider speaking to David W. Harris & Co. Solicitors about a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

Our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors in Swansea, Pontypridd and Talbot Green can help with matters including:

• Making a Lasting Power of Attorney
• Registering a Lasting Power of Attorney
• Advice for attorneys acting under an LPA
• Lasting Power of Attorney disputes
• Advice on other Powers of Attorney, including Enduring Powers of Attorney and Business LPAs

As we have Lasting Power of Attorney experts at each of our local offices in Pontypridd, Swansea and Talbot Green, we can offer a truly local, convenient service for our clients.

We know what an important and sensitive decision it is to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, so our team will work closely with you, providing clear advice and personal support to help ensure that you are able to make the right decisions for your future and your loved ones.

Discuss your requirements with our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors in Swansea, Pontypridd and Talbot Green

We offer a free first consultation to answer your questions and help you decide whether we are the right people to assist you.

Please use our simple online enquiry form to book a free initial chat with one of our LPA solicitors. We respond promptly to all enquiries.

Common questions about Lasting Powers of Attorney

What is an LPA?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that you (the ‘Donor’) makes using a special form. It allows you to choose someone (the ‘Attorney’) you trust to make decisions about things such as your finances and property on your behalf at a time in the future when you are no longer able to, or you may lack the mental capacity to make those decisions yourself.

An LPA can only be used when it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).

What types of Lasting Power of Attorney are there?

There are two different types of Lasting Power of Attorney:

Property and Affairs LPA

This allows your Attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your property and affairs, including paying your bills, collecting your income and benefits or selling your house subject to any restrictions or conditions. It does not allow your Attorney to make decisions about your personal welfare.

You can appoint a Property and Affairs Attorney to manage your finances and property while you still have capacity as well as when you lack capacity. For example, it may be easier for you to give someone the power to carry out tasks such as paying your bills or collecting your benefits or other income. This might be easier for lots of reasons: you might find it difficult to get about or to talk on the telephone, or you might be out of the country for long periods of time.

Personal Welfare LPA

This allows your Attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your personal welfare, including whether to give or refuse consent to medical treatment on your behalf and to decide where you live.

These decisions can only be taken on your behalf when you lack the capacity to make them yourself, for example, if you are ill or unconscious.

What will a Property and Affairs LPA let the person I have chosen do on my behalf?

A Property and Affairs Attorney, using a registered LPA, will be able to make exactly the same kind of decisions you can make now about your money and property. The person will only be able to make decisions within the scope of the powers you have given them, and these decisions might include:

• Buying or selling any property (land, buildings or other assets) you own;
• Opening, closing or operating any bank, building society or other account containing your funds;
• Claiming, receiving and using all benefits, pensions and allowances on your behalf.

This list is only intended to give examples of the types of decisions that can be made on your behalf using a Property and Affairs LPA.

Who can make an LPA?

Anyone aged 18 or over, with the capacity to do so, can make an LPA appointing one or more Attorneys to make decisions on their behalf. You cannot make an LPA jointly with another person; each person must make his or her own LPA.

What are the safeguards?

• The requirement that the LPA must be registered with the OPG before use;
• The requirement to identify someone to provide a Part B Certificate confirming, amongst other things, that you understand the purpose of an LPA and the scope of powers you are giving to your Attorney(s);
• That certain persons chosen by you called ‘named persons’ are notified before registration of the LPA;
• The requirement for the signatures of the Donor and Attorney(s) to be witnessed.

What is a Certificate Provider?

A Certificate Provider is a person that you must select to complete a Part B Certificate of the LPA form confirming that you understand the LPA and that you are not under any pressure to make it.

A Solicitor at David W Harris & Co. can be your Certificate Provider and is a very important safeguard of an LPA.

Why do I need this Certificate?

The Certificate is a vital part of the LPA document. Without it, the LPA is not valid and cannot be registered.

When does my LPA have to be registered?

Your LPA can be registered at any time after you have made it and cannot be used until it has been registered. The LPA is made when it has been completed and signed by all those who are required to sign.

The benefit of registering the LPA shortly after it is made is that it will be ready to be used by your Attorney(s) when it is needed. If an application to register your LPA is made a long time before it is needed, you may need to look at the registered document from time to time to make sure the contents are still relevant to your circumstances. In this situation, you may wish to contact the OPG for up to date information on LPAs.

Do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney?

From a practical and financial standpoint, it is clearly advisable to have an LPA. When a family member becomes incapable, it can be distressing enough for the relatives without having to go through the long and expensive process of applying to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed.

In effect, an LPA takes away the decision-making from your relatives as you have made the necessary decisions in advance and have stipulated what is to happen in the event of you being unable to cope with your affairs.

Without legal authority, a relative cannot automatically take over your finances, as banks and other institutions will not accept another person’s signature unless they have a legal document such as a registered LPA.

An LPA together with a valid Will ensures that your future is taken care of so that as little distress and expense is caused as possible.

For a complete guide on Lasting Powers of Attorney, visit: ukcareguide.co.uk/lasting-power-attorney-health-welfare/

Our Lasting Power of Attorney fees

Fixed fee Lasting Powers of Attorney

We can offer fixed fees for Lasting Powers of Attorney services where appropriate. Please see the table below for indicative pricing.

Hourly rates for our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors

The standard hourly rate for our LPA solicitors is £255.00.

Please note: all prices are a guideline only and may be subject to change.

Speak to our LPA solicitors in Swansea, Pontypridd and Talbot Green

To discuss your requirements with our friendly, sensitive Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors in South Wales, please get in touch.

Simply use our short online enquiry form to tell us that you would like to speak to one of our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors, and we will be in touch promptly.