News
Campaigners call for tougher laws to protect Stalking Victims
16th May 2012There are currently as many as 120,000 cases of stalking in the UK every year. However, only 2% of the 53,000 cases that are reported to the Police end in criminal convictions. [read more]
Legal Services Board calls for further regulations
15th May 2012Some people may call the United Kingdom a Nanny State, subject to too much red-tape and legislation to understand or to have to consider. However much this may be true in some areas, in the area of will-writing there are calls from professional bodies for further regulation to be put in place to protect consumers. [read more]
Dispute over control
15th May 2012The Court of Appeal has recently given judgment in an anticipated case, providing an important authority on a partys obligation to disclose documents within their control in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). [read more]
Lasting Power Of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is the way to ensure that the people you trust will be able to take important decisions on your behalf if you become mentally or physically incapable of doing so for yourself.
While LPAs are most often used to deal with the affairs of the elderly, if they are prepared much earlier in life they will give the same protection in the event of incapacity as a result of illness or accident.
LPAs replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) from the beginning of October 2007.
The basic difference between the two is that while an EPA only enables other people to act on your behalf in relation to financial and property matters, and LPA can also enable them to act in relation to health and welfare decisions.
There are two types of LPA, a Property and Affairs LPA and a Personal Welfare LPA.
A Personal Welfare LPA allows your chosen attorney(s) to make welfare and health care decisions on your behalf, only when you lack mental capacity to do so yourself. This could also extend, if you wish. To giving or refusing consent to the continuation of life-sustaining treatment
If you have already made a Will then an LPA will complement this and help to reassure both you and your family that you have made detailed plans for the future.
You will need to choose people you trust completely and are over 18. People usually choose their spouse and often their children, and other relatives or close friends. An alternative is to choose a professional person such as a solicitor.
Your attorney(s) will only be able to act once the LPA has been signed by you and your attorney(s), and certified by a suitable person that you have not been pressured into making the Power.
To download our Lasting Power of Attorney brochure please click here.
Court of Protection
We can help you contact and work with The Court of Protection, the role of which is to protect people who lack capacity and those who may vulnerable to abuse. The Court is responsible for dealing with the Registration of the LPA and appointing deputies for people who are unable to make LPAs.
We can also advise about being an Attorney under an LPA & EPA including assisting in approaching the Court to make decisions.
For more information please complete our Enquiry Form call us direct on 01245 228122 or email privateclient@gepp.co.uk
