You may choose to give another person legal authority (making them an ‘attorney’) to make decisions on your behalf 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, often shortened to LPA, enables you to give another person the right to make decisions about your health and care and/or financial affairs.

There are two types of LPA:

There is a Health and Care LPA for decisions about care and treatment. You appoint someone as an ‘attorney’ to make decisions for you however this will only be used when you lack the ability to make specific health and care decisions for yourself.

There is also a Financial Affairs LPA when someone can be appointed to manage your financial and property affairs. They can start doing this from when you authorise them to do so.

There are special rules about appointing an LPA. You can get a special form from the Office of the Public Guardian. The form will explain what to do. Your LPA will need to be registered with the Office of Public Guardians before it can be used. LPA has replaced Enduring Power of Attorney.

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