Understanding What Is A Lasting Power Of Attorney And How It Can Ensure Your Security Considering how circumstances can change quickly, how death and sickness changes situations within families, it is a practical move that while a person is still in tip top mental and physical shape, he or she ensures that the future is also well handled. It is never too early to make the necessary arrangements when it comes to legal matters. What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A lasting power of attorney also known as an LPA has more specific powers than the general or regular power of attorney that is commonly used. Comparing it to the regular power of attorney which is used in appointing other people to perform a specific capacity for a limited time, the lasting power of attorney is used in circumstances where the person, who executed the document, though still alive, may no longer have the capacity to exercise his right. The LPA is not just limited to property or monetary proceeds, it also applied to medical and health concerns such as life support or relocation to different accommodations. The LPA gives power to an individual who is incapable handling affairs that he was used to due to various reasons. Types of LPA LPA for Health and Welfare: this will allow your chosen representative to make the necessary decisions regarding health concerns and medical treatments that you might need as they arise. LPA for Property and Financial Affairs: this will allow your chosen representative to make the necessary decisions pertaining to any financial or property affairs. Take note that once registered, the lasting power of attorney is already in effect and can be used, unless otherwise stated in the provision that you indicated, especially when it pertains to health issues. Registration usually takes up to 9 weeks or at times longer. Benefits of Having a Lasting Power Of Attorney Executing a lasting power of attorney is actually something that could be termed as a wise decision. The LPA ensures that your finances, health related issues and overall wellbeing is well taken care of if and when the time comes that you are unable to. This is in a way a security measure to ensure that your affairs are properly looked after. An LPA or lasting power of attorney is a sure fire way to help you with it comes to your well being and health and also your financial affairs. This document allows you in planning in advance regarding the decision that would be made for you if and when the time comes that you lose the capacity to make
them for yourself. It also establishes the people who will make the decisions for you and how you want these people to make those decisions. The lasting power of attorney ensures you of a safe way to maintain control of the decisions made for you since this document needs to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. The person that you choose needs to present a certificate which says that they are aware of the agreement and that you and your chosen representative understand what is purpose and significance of the document. You also have the right on who gets to be told of the agreement established via your lasting power of attorney once it registered, thus giving any concerned parties the opportunity to raise any concerns that they feel should be raised. As you sign the document, you and your chosen representative, this event should be witnessed for it to be valid and binding. Your lawyer or attorney is required by law to follow the Code of Practice of the Mental Health Capacity Act of 2005 and must act in the best of your interest. You are ensured that once this document takes effect, you have the help and support of the Office of the Public Guardian. Resource Remember that a document like a lasting power of attorney is termed as a legal document. To know more about how it works, you can read more for further information regarding this document. The purpose of this document is to establish a proper representation for people who are unable to handle legal issues in the future. This is applied to people who can anticipate in the foreseeable future that they will not be able to represent themselves or will lack the capacity to represent themselves in the future. This is usually arranged or entrusted to family members or trusted friends who can be authorized to make decision in behalf of the assignor.