Posts tagged “Lasting Power of Attorney”

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Fewer young people are making Wills in 2019

Posted on 31st July 2019

A recent survey showed that the average of age a person making a Will in the UK has risen to 57 in 2019.

This is despite attempts to encourage younger generations to include a Will as part of their plan for life.

You could be due a refund on your LPA fees

Posted on 19th April 2019

Up to a million people could be owed refunds on their Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) fees.

Between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) overcharged for LPA applications.

A year ago the Ministry of Justice started to give refunds to people who had applied for LPAs between 2013 and 2017.

Up to 1 February this year 194,713 claimants had received refunds of more than £12m. However, it’s estimated that 800,000 people could still be eligible to claim.

Why do only 14% of British people have Lasting Power of Attorney in place?

Posted on 24th March 2019

New research from Direct Line Life Insurance found that only 14 % of people in Britain have set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

Why? Many people incorrectly believe that their family can make medical decisions for them if they’re unable to make decisions for themselves due to illness, accident or injury.

When is a deputyship order needed?

Posted on 19th December 2018

There are two types of lasting power of attorney (LPA); one for your property and financial affairs, and one for your health and welfare.

You can only put LPAs in place if you have capacity to appoint your attorney(s).

If you haven’t put LPAs in place and lose capacity to make these decisions, then someone will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order.

This will allow them to manage your affairs, but you won’t be able to say who you want the Court to appoint.

Are you the parent of a disabled child?

Posted on 20th November 2018

You won’t have the right to make decisions on your child’s behalf once he or she reaches the age of 18.

If you are the parent of a child with a condition such as Asperger’s or Autism, for example, you will certainly be proud of all the things they can manage for themselves when they become an adult. However, there will probably also be things that they find very challenging, such as dealing with money or talking to medical professionals.

Why do I need a business Lasting Power of Attorney?

Posted on 22nd October 2018

If you are a business owner, making sure that someone can make decisions on your behalf could make the difference between your business continuing or failing.

You can authorise someone to make decisions with a lasting power of attorney (LPA). This is important if you are abroad, have an accident and are unconscious or have a medical condition such as dementia, for example.

You can give someone you trust authority to pay bills, sign cheques, manage a business loan and pay salaries.

How long does it take to set up LPAs?

Posted on 19th September 2018

The latest report from the of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) says that, although things have improved, it still takes 34 days for your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to be finalised.

But that’s just the last part of the process.

Before your LPA can become effective, there are several important steps you will need to take.

Living with dementia

Posted on 15th August 2018

Those of us currently leading active, healthy lives can look forward to living for many more years than earlier generations.

However, the Alzheimer’s Society has recently published figures showing the number of people living with dementia will more than double in the coming decades, partly because we are all living longer.

Civil partnerships aren't available for everyone yet

Posted on 7th August 2018

In June a couple succeeded in their legal bid to have civil partnerships recognised for heterosexual couples.

The Supreme Court said the Civil Partnership Act, which currently applies only to same-sex couples, is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, the judgement doesn’t mean that the government will have to change the law.

Your dementia diagnosis won’t stop you making a will

Posted on 28th June 2018

When you’re heading into your later years, one concern that will probably persistently niggle at the back of your mind is the risk of dementia.

Steps to prevent dementia

In an ideal world we could all delay or avoid the onset of dementia entirely.

There is now a new national plan for family doctors to assess your dementia risks as part of the NHS health check, which is offered to patients aged between 40 and 74. You will be asked about your current lifestyle and be advised about steps you can take to reduce your level of risk.