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ACC Guidance update – when does a deputy need COP approval for legal work?
Jemma Garside
Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life and to keep control of their affairs for as long as they can. A Lasting Power of Attorney can give peace of mind to you and your loved ones, just in case things don’t go quite as planned. Some frequently asked questions include:
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that appoints a trusted person (your ‘attorney’) to make decisions for you if you are no longer able to make them yourself. This might happen if you are ill or injured or, more often, simply as a result of getting older. There are two types of LPA:
Your LPA cannot be used until it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, who will check it first to make sure it has been prepared properly. It is almost always best to get your LPA registered straight away so that it is ready as soon as it is needed.
You can only make an LPA while you have mental capacity so it is a good idea to think about it early, even if you are young and healthy. The chances are that you won’t need it for a long time and maybe not at all. However, if something unexpected happens, for example if you are in an accident, then having an LPA in place will be one less thing for your loved ones to worry about.
If you make an LPA now and change your mind about who your attorneys should be, then you can always make a new one later.
Anyone can be an attorney, provided that they are over 18. The most important qualification they can have is that you trust them. Many people chose their partner or a close friend or relative. Being an attorney is a big responsibility and you may feel that you don’t want to put this responsibility on someone you love. In this case, you can appoint a trusted professional such as your solicitor or accountant. Remember that a professional will usually charge a fee for acting as your attorney.
You can also appoint more than one attorney and you can even appoint replacement attorneys, in case your first choice is no longer available.
You can give your attorney instructions about how they should manage your property. For example, you may feel very strongly that your home should not be sold. There are also rules which apply to all attorneys about how they should behave. They are not allowed to spend your money on themselves and there are very strict limits about how much of your property they can give away as gifts to others. If an attorney doesn’t follow these rules, then the Court of Protection has the power to remove them and order them to pay your money back.
Unless your circumstances are particularly complicated, you can probably make your LPA yourself. You can even fill in the form online and there are helpful instructions to guide you through the process. In some situations, it might be a good idea to ask a solicitor to help you. For example:
We often meet with clients of all ages to help them to make an LPA which will work for them. We talk through who they should appoint as their attorney, what they want their attorney to be able to do and what they don’t want them to be able to do. We make sure that the LPA is prepared properly, especially if their affairs or wishes are complicated, so that it will be registered by the OPG and so that the attorneys can use it easily. We also work with family members who want to put something in place for older relatives before it is too late.
In this case, someone will need to apply to the Court of Protection to be your deputy. This is best avoided if possible because it is expensive and there are more responsibilities for a deputy and an attorney so it is a harder job. You will also have much less control over who is appointed because, although the Court will listen to your wishes, they don’t necessarily have to follow them.
Jemma Garside
Sameena Munir
Stephanie Mooney
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