Nine out of ten of us do not have a Lasting Power of Attorney. If you don’t know what that is, then you are in good company because nearly a third of people don’t have a clue, according to a new survey by Saga Legal Services.
An LPA is a legal document recognised by all kinds of organisations, including banks and insurers that lets you appoint an attorney – a trusted friend or relative of your choice – to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and can’t make them yourself.
Without an attorney in these circumstances the only option is for a relative to apply to the Court of Protection to become your ‘deputy’. This can take four to six months and is stressful for all involved, according to Saga’s Emma Myers.
Some years ago my mother thankfully organised an Enduring Power of Attorney, a similar document that the LPA replaced in 2007.
She was in good health then. But seven years on she has had a stroke and now I am her attorney and in charge of her affairs. I can say that such a battle with red tape was an extra pressure I am grateful to have done without.
Contact us today to make your Lasting Power of Attorney.