If you can no longer make important life decisions for yourself - who will? PD LAW EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY...

INCAPACITY can strike in many ways and at any age, making it impossible to carry on living as independently as you once might.

Many medical professionals and charities state that planning for your future is essential to make life easier for your loved ones.

Solicitor Rhauri Mundy, head of private clients at PD Law Solicitors, said: “Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a vital tool to be used by those you love and trust such as a spouse, partner or child to continue helping you to live your life as independently and fully as possible, when you can no longer manage your own affairs.” lifetime and any authority granted to an attorney under the LPA ceases upon death. Thereafter your will then determines what happens to your estate. attorney, then decisions affecting your life may be made by people you do not know such as local authorities or medical practitioners and your loved ones may have little or no input into those decisions.

Further they will not be able to access your money or assets that could be used to help improve the quality of your life.

In the absence of an LPA, the burden will fall to those closest to you to apply to the Court of Protection to get access to your money and assets and authority to make decisions regarding your health.

This process can prove to be significantly more expensive and onerous than making an LPA and can take considerably longer to obtain, during which time your loved ones will not be able to access your money or deal with your property, which could cause financial difficulties. any age. However, clearly the more advanced we are in age, the greater the need to get our affairs in order.

However, in order to make an LPA you must possess the requisite mental capacity to choose your attorney and understand the nature and extent of the LPA.

It may be too late to make an LPA if you wait until you have reached a certain age or until you have been diagnosed with dementia or other conditions, age related or otherwise PD Law recommends that anyone over 18 should organise an LPA as you may have lost mental capacity. There is no time like the present for making plans for your future and this is where PD Law Solicitors can help. If you would like to talk to the private client department about making an LPA call 0151 422 8070 for a free no obligation chat or visit www.pdlawsolicitors.co.uk for a quote. Home or hospital visits can be arranged for your convenience.