A Power of Attorney is a legal document which nominates another person to act in your best interests and make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity and are unable to do so yourself.

The person nominated can be anyone you fully trust – a spouse, adult child, friend, relative or even neighbour.

There are two types of Power of Attorney: one covers everything to do with health and welfare, while a second type covers everything to do with property and financial affairs.

Let’s have a closer look at how and when a Power of Attorney should be used.

When should it be used?

The Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare can be set up and signed at any time – even when a person is completely fit and well – but can only be enforced if and when the person loses capacity. This might be owing to an illness such as Alzheimer’s.

At this point, the nominee can make decisions related to the person’s medical care, treatment plans, and social factors, such as whether the person requires carers or to go into residential care.

This is different for the Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs. Here, the person can give permission for their nominee to make decisions for them straight away, even if they still have capacity. The nominee can make decisions on matters such as selling houses, managing bank accounts, and paying bills according to Gov.uk.

How and when do we arrange a Power of Attorney?

It’s a sensible idea to get a Power of Attorney arranged long before there’s any need for it. It’s a great way to look after yourself in later life by nominating a trusted person to act on your behalf. It’s easy to arrange in person, or you can arrange Power of Attorney Online thanks to specialists such as https://powerofattorneyonline.co.uk.

Your solicitor will go over all of the details and key facts with you before signing, and once it is signed, it remains valid forever.