A power of attorney is an important legal document that allows someone to act on another person’s behalf if they cannot manage their own affairs.
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A power of attorney is a legal arrangement whereby one person, known as the donor, gives another person, called the attorney, the authority to make decisions for them. In England and Wales, there are two types of lasting power of attorney: one for property and financial matters, and another for health and welfare.
Steps to setting up a power of attorney
The process begins with choosing one or more attorneys and deciding how they will act, either jointly or independently. Official forms must then be completed, signed in the correct order, and certified by a suitable person who confirms the donor understands the arrangement. In some cases, people may also need to notify others about the application. You can arrange a power of attorney online through a company such as https://powerofattorneyonline.co.uk.
Registering and using a power of attorney
A power of attorney is only valid once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. This process can take several weeks, so it is important to plan ahead.
Power of attorney across the UK
The rules differ slightly depending on where you live in the UK. In Scotland, there are continuing powers of attorney for financial matters and welfare powers of attorney for personal decisions.
Creating a power of attorney provides peace of mind that important decisions will be managed properly if circumstances change.