Lasting Power of Attorney

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney, or an LPA, is a document that gives you the power to appoint people you trust that will make decisions for you if you no longer have the capacity to do so. They can make decisions based on finances and your health, such as medical treatment and care.

Who needs an LPA?

An LPA can be useful to set up for anyone who wants to prepare for their future, especially if a diagnosis that’ll affect mental capacity has been received. Preparing for the future is essential for many people, including those who may lose the capacity to make their own choices. You may consider setting up an LPA if:

• You’ve been diagnosed with a condition that can affect your ability to make decisions in the future, like dementia.
• You want to manage assets, such as properties or businesses, to ensure they’re protected in the future if anything happens to your capacity.
• You are looking after relatives who need your support due to illness or age. An LPA can authorise you to manage their decisions in the future.

What LPA services do we offer?

Our LPA solicitors guide you through every aspect of creating and registering your Lasting Power of Attorney:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA – authorising someone to manage your finances, property, bank accounts and investments on your behalf.
• Health and Welfare LPA – giving trusted individuals the power to make decisions about your medical treatment, care arrangements and where you live.
• LPA Registration – handling the entire registration process with the Office of the Public Guardian to ensure your documents are legally valid.
• Attorney Selection Advice – helping you choose the right people to act on your behalf and structuring their appointment appropriately.
• Certificate Provider Arrangements – acting as your professional certificate provider when we prepare your LPAs, removing the need to find someone independently.
• Capacity Assessments – arranging medical assessments if needed to confirm your mental capacity and protect against future challenges.
• International Assets Protection – advising on additional measures needed if you hold property or assets abroad.
• Business Interest Protection – guidance on whether separate arrangements are needed to safeguard your business interests.
• LPA Amendments and Revocations – preparing deeds of revocation if you need to cancel or partially amend your existing power of attorney.

Who can I choose as my attorney?

The person or people you choose should be close to you and have a solid grasp on your best interests and wishes. You can choose a family member or a trusted friend, or even a legal advisor. You’re also able to choose multiple attorneys to handle different decisions, so one could make decisions based on your finances and another on your welfare.

Our process

Every case is different and we’ll tailor our work to your specific needs. It’s worth noting that when we help you prepare your LPA, your solicitor will act as your certificate provider, which saves you time and ensures you have the professional oversight needed. You can expect a similar process as follows:

1. Initial Consultation: we meet with you to discuss your circumstances, family situation and what decisions you want your attorneys to make. This typically takes place at one of our offices, but we can arrange an alternative option if needed.
2. Attorney Structure Planning: we help you decide who should act as your attorney and whether they should act jointly (all together) or jointly and severally (independently or together). We’ll explain the implications of each option based on your family dynamics.
3. Document Preparation: our specialist Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors draft your LPA documents with precise legal wording, ensuring they meet Office of the Public Guardian requirements and include any specific instructions you need.
4. Certificate Provider Certification: when we prepare your LPAs, your specialist lawyer acts as your certificate provider at no extra cost (provided we’re not appointed as attorneys). We verify that you understand the document and are making the decision freely.
5. Registration Application: we submit your completed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian on your behalf, handling all paperwork and communication. Registration typically takes eight to ten weeks if there are no errors in the application.
6. Confirmation and Guidance: once registered, we confirm that your LPA is active and provide clear guidance to you and your attorneys about how and when the powers can be used.

Why Choose Fisher Jones Greenwood?

We have over 40 years of legal experience, and we’ve helped many families protect their futures through carefully prepared Lasting Powers of Attorney. We’re members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly), which demonstrates our expertise in supporting vulnerable clients.

We’ll always be transparent with you, from our fees to the support we provide, making sure you understand each step of the process. You won’t be surprised by hidden charges, and if any questions crop up throughout the process, we’ll be on hand to answer them.

Our approach is thorough, and we’ll check through everything and ensure you understand. We’ll handle the entire Office of the Public Guardian application process, checking every detail to prevent delays or rejections and we’ll take the time to explain the implications of your choices throughout the process.

National scale, proven expertise

Fisher Jones Greenwood is part of Lawfront, a national group of regional law firms. Together, our private client teams total almost 180 specialists and hold seven Legal 500 rankings nationally, including three Tier 1.