Do you know all the benefits of Power of Attorney?

Firstly, a Power of Attorney allows you to decide who can make financial or medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and unable to do so for yourself. But you remain in control.

“A Power of Attorney can only act with your authority or if you’re unable to do it yourself, so they can never overrule you. It’s not giving away power, it’s putting protection in place,” says Tony Marchi, Principal at ILAWS Scotland.

Here are three other benefits of Power of Attorney, which is designed to give you peace of mind about the future:

1

It could help speed up treatment

Without a POA, medical staff may withhold or delay treatment deemed too risky, and not your next of kin as some assume. However, it can take six to nine months for a POA to go through the Scottish Courts system (time you may not have to spare in a medical emergency). A POA will be able to act in your best interest.

2

.It could help protect your savings and finance

Your POA is the only one who’ll be able to control or manage your assets and savings while you’re incapacitated. They will have the authority to close accounts or withdrew funds on your behalf if you can no longer get to a bank.

3

.It helps look after your wellbeing

If you have arranged POA, your Attorney can choose where you live (such as what care home you reside in) and can make decisions about your care or medical treatment. They can even decide what clothes you wear.

Don’t forget, if you are approaching ILAWS for Power of Attorney, then they are

also qualified in Will-writing, or updating an existing

Will, so consider this too as circumstances in families can,

and do change.