Save your loved ones any inconvenience

There’s no way of knowing when, or indeed if, you will need Power of Attorney – but not getting one isn’t worth the risk, that’s the message from Mr Smith who acted as Attorney when his wife, Marie, passed away.

Arranging this important legal document, along with a will, was a priority for the couple, who met in Saudi Arabia and married in Cyprus before relocating to Edinburgh.

ILAWS Scotland helped the Smiths write these essential documents.

And, after hearing that ILAWS was also able to protect their home from being sold to pay for care fees (should one or both of them go into a care home), they did this, too.

Mr Smith, who served in the Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 18 years, was first put in touch with ILAWS after a recommendation from a friend.

He said: “We both wrote our wills with ILAWS, then when my wife passed away in May through illness, I got back in touch with ILAWS.

“When we first contacted them, they sent someone to the house, he was very efficient, well-mannered and well-dressed.

“The second time, I found ILAWS to be very sympathetic and very understanding – they could not have been more helpful. I dealt with George and Marcus and had no problem at all with them – I couldn’t be happier with them.

“After I wrote another will, I had another legal issue needing resolved so got back in contact with George, and he put me in touch with another chap. George said I was free to contact him for advice any time.”

The grandfather-of-two, who also has two greatgrandchildren, acted as an Attorney for his late wife Marie, 82. The former nurse fell ill and was admitted to hospital, where she passed away in May.

During this sad time, John was able to access the couple’s joint accounts – something he would not have been able to do if he had not been named as an Attorney on Marie’s medical records.

He explained: “We had two bank accounts in joint names, but as we had arranged Power of Attorney, I managed to get the money moved from both accounts into one account. This now means if anything happens to me, my brother (who will act as my Attorney) will have less to worry about.”

Power of Attorney is also required if a spouse is admitted to hospital, as the named attorney has a say on the treatment and medical care they receive.

Mr Smith added: “It was stated on Marie’s medical notes that I have Power of Attorney, as we sorted that out years ago – we were ahead of the game.”

Now, given the unforeseen circumstances he has recently experienced, John has a message for those who do not yet have a Power of Attorney or a Will organised: “It is very naïve to think you don’t need a will or Power of Attorney because, if you don’t, your family will have problems.

“I would urge anybody to do it sooner rather than later to save your family and loved ones from a lot of inconvenience.”