Summary
In July 2015, the two power of attorney names were changed to Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for financial decisions and LPA for health and care decisions.

You may see the old names used in various places: LPA for property and financial affairs and LPA for health and welfare.

You can choose to give another person (or more than one) legal authority (making them an ‘attorney’) to make decisions on your behalf about your care if a time comes that you are not able to make your own decisions. This can be a relative, a friend or a solicitor.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for health and care decisions is a legally binding document that will enable you to give another person the right to make decisions about your health and care.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for financial decisions is a different legally binding document, and is not covered here – it enables you to give another person the right to make decisions about your property and affairs.

 

Detail

 

There are special rules about appointing an LPA. You can get a special form from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).

Your LPA will need to be registered with the Office of Public Guardians before it can be used. There is a charge for this although there are exemptions.

It can take up to 10 weeks to register. If you’ve granted someone a Power of Attorney, remember to mention this in your Advance Care Plan.