Lasting Powers of Attorney in the Canterbury and Kent area
The purpose of Lasting Powers of Attorney is for you to choose people that you trust whilst you have capacity, who will look after you and your property and financial affairs should you lose capacity. There are two forms, one for Property and Financial affairs and one for Health and Welfare.
Property and Financial affairs
The Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Financial affairs ensures that if you lose capacity, your chosen attorneys will look after your financial affairs including paying bills on your property and ensuring that should you require anything bought for you, they can do this. At any time that your attorneys make a purchase or use your accounts, they have to do this for your benefit.
Even married couples who have joint accounts can find that if the bank realises one signatory has lost capacity, they may freeze the account. Powers of Attorney are registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection oversees the decisions and actions of your attorneys if there issues or disputes.
Health and Welfare
The Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare ensure that if you cannot make decisions in relation to your medical treatment, your attorneys can discuss with medical professionals and Social Services on your behalf. They can make decisions up to and including life-sustaining treatment.
There have been high profile cases when families have tried to keep relatives out of care against the will of The State and this has led to the prosecution of the family. Having the Power of Attorney in place would allow you to make those decisions on behalf of your relative legally.