You may want to give another person legal authority to make decisions on your behalf.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) enables you to give another person the right to make decisions about your property and affairs and/or your personal welfare.
Decisions about care and treatment can be covered by a personal welfare LPA.
An LPA covering your personal welfare can only be used when you lack the ability to make specific welfare decisions for yourself.
There are special rules about appointing an LPA. You can get a special form from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) or stationery shops that provide legal packs. The form will explain what to do. Your LPA will need to be registered with the Office of Public Guardians before it can be used (see details on page 14).
An example of appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney
Mr Brown suffers from a heart condition and he has started to think about what might happen in the future if his illness gets worse. Mr Brown has always handled the finances and affairs for both himself and his wife. Mr Brown is concerned that should anything happen to him, his wife would not be able to cope with any major decisions or he may become too ill to make decisions about his own care.
To give him and his wife peace of mind they both decide to give Lasting Power of Attorney to their son William. They both discuss with William their thoughts about any possible future decisions which may arise around money, property or healthcare. By doing so their son understands their wishes and preferences and can act for them in the way they would choose should the need ever arise.
William will only make decisions for his parents if they are unable to make decisions for themselves.
