What is a Power of Attorney?

Is a legal document which lets you choose somebody you trust to look after your affairs.

This allows you to appoint someone to look after your financial and property affairs on a temporary basis. The Authority under a General Power of Attorney has limits to specific matters or for general purposes.

The Power can be revoked by you at any time. It is automatically revoked if you become mentally incapable of dealing with your financial affairs.

Whilst it is no longer possible to make an Enduring Power of Attorney, such Powers that are made prior to 30 September 2007 are still valid.

Hansells can assist with the registration of an Enduring Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian where necessary and give general advice about acting under an Enduring Power or Attorney.

These documents have replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney. The new powers have more safeguards built in and have a wider use and application than the earlier Enduring kind. We recommend a Lasting Power of Attorney in case you become unable to deal with your affairs in the future due to injury, ill health or age.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney – one to deal with Property and Financial Affairs and the second to manage Health and Welfare. Please speak to us about these and your options regarding either or both.

What if you have not planned ahead?

If you (or someone close to you) have not prepared a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney and you become incapable of managing your own affairs – it would be necessary for a Deputyship Order to be applied for. This involves making an application to the Court of Protection, which can be by a family member, a trusted friend or perhaps a family solicitor.

If a Deputy is needed they are required to submit detailed application forms in order to be approved. Once acting as Deputy, they must take out a special insurance bond, produce an annual report and keep accounts. At Hansells we can help you with all of these legal formalities and we can also act as Deputy for you.

Preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney in advance will ensure the person you choose deals with your affairs when you can’t.

How can Hansells help?

We can:

  • prepare a General Power of Attorney.
  • register an Enduring Power of Attorney.
  • prepare and register a Lasting Power of Attorney.
  • Advise and support Attorneys acting under a Power of Attorney; and
  • on the choice of Deputy should a Power of Attorney not exist.
  • Advise and support Deputies throughout the application process.
  • Act as the Attorney or Deputy when you need someone experienced and independent to assist.

Prepare for the future today

Whether you want to plan ahead or you need help and advice on becoming or appointing a Deputy, do get in touch.

We can talk you through everything on the phone or meet you face to face.  We can also send you more detailed information.

Accreditations

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and Deputy Panel Members.

STEP members keep up to date with the latest legal, technical and regulatory developments.

SFE members are all specialists in older client law, but what sets SFE members apart from other lawyers are their specialist client care skills that enable them to advise and support older and vulnerable clients. – click here to view our Code of Practice and Client Care Procedures. Samantha Loombe is an Associate Member of SFE.

Get in touch with us.

For more information and a no obligation discussion, please complete the contact form or call us on 01603 615 731.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Our Specialists

  • Consultant

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Philip Norton

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Philip Norton
  • Senior Solicitor

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Felicity Elsmore

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Felicity Elsmore
  • Senior Associate

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Craig Gosling

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Craig Gosling
  • Senior Associate TEP

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Lauren Cotton

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Lauren Cotton
  • Associate TEP

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Clare van Poortvliet

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Clare van Poortvliet
  • Associate - Court of Protection Team

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Samantha Loombe

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Samantha Loombe
  • Solicitor

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Rebecca Fuller

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Rebecca Fuller
  • Solicitor

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Rebecca Fuller

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Rebecca Fuller
  • Probate Executive

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Suzy Castle

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Suzy Castle
  • Solicitor

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Sara Young

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Sara Young
  • Estates Practitioner

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Matt Hale

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Matt Hale
  • Paralegal F.Inst.Pa

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Beverley Fulcher

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Beverley Fulcher
  • Estates Practitioner

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Jane Mansell

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Jane Mansell
  • Court of protection Paralegal

    Wills, Trusts & Lifetime Planning

    Andrea Bell

    12
    Read Bio
    1 Andrea Bell

Get in touch with us.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.