A Power of Attorney is a legal document by which you can appoint one or more persons to make decisions on your behalf and deal with your affairs. Some people assume that their next of kin, partner or even spouse will automatically be able to step in and deal with matters on their behalf if they become unwell or suffer from mental incapacity. Sadly, this is no longer the case and that is why Powers of Attorney are an extremely important tool for us to guarantee that someone is able to take on that responsibility.
There are two main types of powers which you can grant to your Attorney:-
Financial Powers (also known as Continuing Powers)
These powers deal with your monetary and legal affairs.
Welfare Powers
These powers mainly relate to your health, wellbeing and medical treatment.
The Power of Attorney is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
It is also important to bear in mind that some people leave the setting up of a Power of Attorney too late where they have sadly reached a point where they are suffering from mental incapacity and can no longer give appropriate instructions to set up a Power of Attorney. In that situation, it is still possible for family members to deal with their affairs but would require an application to Court for the appointment of a Guardian which can be a lengthy and expensive process.