Why you should make a Lasting Power of Attorney

Reduced Lasting Power of Attorney Fees

In an unusual move by the Government, the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) registration fees have been slashed from £110 per document to just £82, a staggering 25% reduction being in mind the Government’s usual approach of hiking fees.

The Office of the Public Guardian (who deals with the registrations) states, “The fee reduction has been made possible by the high number of applications OPG is processing and efficiencies which have driven down the cost of providing the service. Ministers hope that cutting fees will encourage even more people to take out LPAs, providing peace of mind for themselves and their families.”

An LPA is a legal document which allows a person, the ‘donor’, to choose someone else to manage their affairs for them. The person chosen is known as an attorney. There are two documents; one for your finances and one for your health.

Under an LPA, the person who is chosen to be an attorney can be a friend, relative, or a professional person. The donor will decide who that person will be, and exactly how much power the attorney should have over his or her affairs. More than one person can be chosen to act as an attorney on the donor’s behalf.

The donor must have capacity to execute the LPA at the time it was created. This means they must be able to understand what it is that they are signing, and what it means. An LPA can only be used once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

It can save time, expense and stress to complete such a document in advance of it being required. Many are never used, but it is advisable to give careful thought to completing one – just in case! Deputyship application fees (i.e. when you do not have a Power of Attorney but lose capacity) remain at £400 per application and bring with them a lifetime of OPG oversight and form filling.

We have been looking after the legal affairs of people in Sussex and beyond for over 125 years. When it comes to Lasting Powers of Attorney, it’s vital that you seek experienced help to ensure that:

• The right details are completed so that the LPA is valid – a rejection can result in extra costs
• The right powers are given to the right people
• The right information is given about your wishes, so your attorney can carry them out properly

Your consultation can be in person at our offices, over Skype, or by telephone, to discuss the LPA process, your wishes, and how we can put them into effect. To book your consultation, call us on 01273 604123 or email enquire@bbc-law.co.uk.