Make the right dec
EVERYONE is familiar with the relevance of a Will but, when it comes to Power of Attorney, not everyone understands the importance of this legal document.
If you are ill, unconscious, too medicated or have lost capacity, no one can make decisions on your behalf.
People often assume a spouse or family member can access the bank accounts, pay bills or make medical decisions for you should the need arise.
Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case.
No one is automatically authorised to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf, and without a Power of Attorney, courts will appoint guardianship to a third party.
In fact, the only way to protect your finances and welfare is to appoint a close friend, or member of you family as legal attorney through a Power of Attorney.
If you are ever unwell and in a vulnerable position, it’s good to know there is someone you trust, who you have appointed, making decisions for you, in your best interests.
Think about who you would want in this position and have an open and honest conversation with them first to make sure they are happy to take on this important role.
Some 13.2 per cent of all hospital-delayed discharges are as a result of there being no one with Power of Attorney or a guardianship order in place.
If you consider it costs the NHS £234 a day to keep someone in hospital, the overall cost is huge.
“Increasingly, hospitals are looking for Power of Attorney and won’t automatically allow the next of kin to make decisions for patients,” says Tony Marchi, from iLAWS.
The company makes things easy for clients, going out and visiting them in their own home, although office appointments are also available.
This means the clients relax more in their own surroundings.
“Some clients are elderly and it just doesn’t make sense to drag them out to city office appointments,” adds Tony.
Of course, it is important to set up a Power of Attorney before you lose capacity so that, if you find yourself in a position where you cannot make
decisions for yourself, there is