A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that appoints an attorney to take care of your health and financial affairs as well as your welfare should you become incapacitated.
Here’s what to consider when planning to submit your LPA online.
1. Trust
An attorney should be someone you trust explicitly, as they will manage your affairs on your behalf. You therefore must ensure you have full confidence in their reliability and ability to make decisions for you, even under difficult circumstances.
2. Suitability
Your attorney should be a legally suitable candidate, meaning they must meet a set of requirements as set out by the law. For instance, they must be over the age of 18 and cannot be declared bankrupt. You can find more about the legal requirements of an LPA at https://powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/.
3. Willingness
Your attorney should be willing to act on your behalf when you no longer can, and should not be forced into agreeing to this. Make sure they know what it entails and are comfortable with the responsibility, as much for your own peace of mind as for theirs, as you want to be sure they will act in your best interests and not wind up feeling bitter.
4. Location
It is preferable to have an attorney who lives close to you, as this will make things easier should they have to step in. However, if they are not in your area, then they must be able to make themselves available to attend meetings and make difficult decisions when required.
5. Backups
It’s always recommended to have backup attorneys as the LPA will end if the attorney dies, becomes incapacitated themself, or is no longer deemed a suitable candidate due to changes in personal circumstances.
6. Review
It’s important to keep reviewing your LPA to ensure you remain confident in the protection the legal document gives you. Things change, so naturally, you may want to consider updating your choice of attorney to make sure it aligns with your best interests.
