Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person (the donor) to choose someone (the attorney) to make decisions on their behalf if they lack the capacity to make those decisions themselves in the future.
There are two types of LPA, and you can make one or both.
Property and Financial Affairs
A property and Financial Affairs LPA allows someone to make decisions for you about things like:
- Selling or buying property
- Paying the bills
- Collecting your benefits
- Allowing others access to information about you
- Arranging repairs to property
Health and Welfare
A health and welfare LPA allows someone to make decisions for you about things like:
- Where you should live
- Consent to medical treatment
- Your daily routine, what you should eat or wear for example
- Who you have contact with
- What kinds of social activities you should take part in
You can set up the LPA so that the person can only make decisions on limited things, or it can cover everything. It can be used once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
People with dementia may worry that they will no longer be able to control their affairs, but registering the LPA ensures that the person’s best interest is always the priority.
An LPA is only valid if the donor has the mental capacity to set it up and has not been put under any undue pressure to do so. It must always be the decision of the donor.
(Please note: if you have already made an Enduring Power of Attorney this remains valid).
For information about making an LPA
Office of the Public Guardian
PO Box 15118
Birmingham B16 6GX
Telephone 0300 456 03 00
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.publicguardian.gov.uk