Lasting Power of Attorney

Many of us assume that if something happened to us, the people closest to us would automatically be able to step in and help. But without the right legal arrangements in place, they may not have the authority to act or make decisions on our behalf.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you choose people you trust to support you and make decisions if you’re ever unable to make them yourself. It can offer peace of mind that your wishes will be respected and the people you have chosen can step in when you need them most.

We can offer you 10% off a guided Lasting Power of Attorney service through our trusted partner Farewill.

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What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to act on your behalf should you lose the capacity to do so for yourself.

There are two different types of LPA’s:

Property and financial affairs: Allows someone you trust to manage things like your bank accounts, bills, savings and property.

Health and welfare: Allows someone you trust to manage your care, medical treatment and day-to-day wellbeing if you’re unable to make those decisions yourself.

Many people choose to put both in place for peace of mind.

Why consider a Lasting Power of Attorney?

An LPA isn’t only something to think about when you’re older or unwell. An illness or accident can happen unexpectedly, and putting an LPA in place while you are able to make your own decisions means you can choose who you want to support you in the future.

Without an LPA in place, the people closest to you may not have the legal authority to make decisions or act for you if you lose capacity.

Instead, they may need to apply to the Court of Protection. This process can take time, involve greater costs and add stress during an already difficult time.

Putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place means you’ve already decided who you want to speak for you and act in your best interests.

My dad is in his eighties and still makes all his own decisions, but he’s had an LPA in place for many years. When his father was unwell, he had to go through the stress of setting this up in a crisis and he didn’t want me to have the same experience. We both feel reassured that if he has an accident or loses some of his mental capacity I’m set up to step in and make decisions in his best interests if he needs that.

How to create a Lasting Power of Attorney

You can create a LPA yourself through the GOV.UK power of attorney service. The government website provides information about the process and lets you create an LPA online.

Alternatively, you can choose to get professional guidance. This can be helpful if you’re unsure about the decisions you need to make, who to appoint or how to complete and sign the documents correctly.

Through our trusted partner Farewill you can get 10% off a guided LPA service when you quote “Royal Star & Garter”.

With Farewill’s guided telephone service, specialists will: 

Help you understand the decisions you’ll need to make.  
Talk through your options and answer any questions.  
Prepare your LPA documents for you.  
Explain who needs to sign, and in what order.  
Provide clear signing instructions to help you avoid common mistakes.

You don’t have to use Farewill to create a Lasting Power of Attorney. You are free to choose the option or service that best suits your needs.

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“I’m in my sixties and have set up an LPA. I feel peace of mind knowing that if I’m ever unable to make decisions for myself, someone I trust will be there to make sure my wishes are respected.”

Please note: The guided LPA service is provided by a selected independent third-party provider. Other providers are available. We would always recommend you select a service that best meets your individual requirements.

Planning for the future

Write your Will for free

A Lasting Power of Attorney helps to protect you during your lifetime. Writing a Will ensures everyone close to you knows your wishes after your death.  We offer our supporters the opportunity to make or amend a simple Will free of charge through one of our trusted partners.

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