Lasting Powers of Attorney in Goffs Oak, Enfield and Stevenage
None of us knows what the future holds. A Lasting Power of Attorney gives you the comfort of choosing who you want to act on your behalf if you are no longer able to manage your own financial affairs or make decisions on your health and welfare.
The team at Moore Northern Home Counties Limited can advise on and draft both types of Lasting Powers of Attorney; Financial Decisions and Health and Care.
Financial decisions lasting powers of attorney
A Financial Decisions LPA enables your attorney(s) to make decisions regarding the management of your finances including running your bank accounts, making and selling investments, managing your bills and buying and selling your property.
Health and care decisions lasting powers of attorney
A Health and Care Decisions LPA lets your attorney(s) make decisions about the type of care and medical treatment you receive, including life-sustaining treatment and where you live as well as day-to-day matters such as your diet and daily routine.
How much does a lasting power of attorney from Moore Northern Home Counties cost?
Single lasting power of attorney – £475 + VAT
Registration fee – £92
Two lasting powers of attorney (Health and care, and financial decisions) – £850 + VAT
Registration fee – £184
Four LPAs – £1,200 + VAT
Registration fee – £368
Enduring power of attorney
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) are no longer created, but there may be situations where an EPA made some years ago has not been registered, in which case it will require registration if the donor has lost or is losing mental capacity. The fees in these cases will be based on the time spent at our hourly rate plus VAT.
Why choose Moore?
Our friendly, supportive legal team specialise in Wills, LPAs and Probate. They will guide you through the process explaining everything in clear, jargon-free language giving you peace of mind that your Power of Attorney has been prepared correctly.
We are able to accommodate home visits for no additional charge where the person is elderly or disabled and would have physical difficulty attending our offices in Goffs Oak or Stevenage. We are also happy to provide online appoints if preferred.
Get in touch today
If you’re looking for help with an LPA, contact our specialist lawyers today by filling in our contact us form or calling one of our offices:
- Goffs Oak/Enfield: 020 8366 4331
- Stevenage: 01438 741147
Powers of attorney FAQs
An LPA (Lasting Powers of Attorney) gives legal authority to a trusted family member or friend to deal with your affairs on your behalf. It can be used if you ever lose the capacity to make your own decisions through injury for example or ill health.
There are two types of LPA:
- Financial decisions lasting powers of attorney
- Health and care decisions lasting powers of attorney
Under a financial property LPA, your attorney can access your bank account, pay your bills, sell your home if necessary and make investments on your behalf.
Under a health and welfare LPA, your attorney can make decisions about where you will live, your day-to-day routine and the medical treatment you will receive.
You can appoint a single attorney or more than one if you wish, and they can act individually or you can require them to make any decisions together, although this may make their job more difficult to manage. You can also name replacement attorneys who can act should anyone be unable or unwilling to take on the role when the time comes.
You can appoint different attorneys for each type of LPA and all of your attorneys have a duty to act in your best interests at all times.
If you become unable to manage your own affairs, an LPA allows someone else to step in and do this for you very easily. It also gives you the opportunity to choose the person or people you most trust and who you think will be most suitable to take on the task.
Without an LPA, your loved ones won’t be able to deal with any transactions on your behalf, they won’t be able to pay your bills or arrange your care.
They will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order which can be time consuming and is more complicated and considerably more expensive than putting an LPA in place ahead of time. It also involves more ongoing monitoring than having an LPA.
A financial decisions LPA can be used at any time, including while you still have capacity. This can be very useful if you need someone to deal with a financial matter for you if you cannot get to the bank or if you are overseas.
A health and care decisions LPA can only be used once you have lost capacity.
It’s never too soon to make an LPA. Once you have signed it, it can be registered and does not need to be used until you require help. That day may never come, but if it does, you and your family have the reassurance of knowing that you have made adequate plans.
If you wait until you have problems, you could find that it is too late. Once you lose mental capacity you can no longer make an LPA.
Your attorney should be 18 years old or over and have the mental capacity to make their own decisions. It can be your spouse, partner, a relative, friend or a professional like a solicitor or independent financial adviser.
You should choose someone you trust to make decisions in your best interest and who is happy to act on your behalf.
A will is a separate document to an LPA. A will is only effective on your death and has no legal authority prior to that point. An LPA is effective whilst you are alive and allows others to act on your behalf during your lifetime.