Wills and Powers of Attorney - in life and after death

Wills

There are many good reasons for making a Will:

• You can leave gifts to friends, relatives or charities
• You can leave treasured possessions to individual
• You can protect dependants who may not be blood-related and therefore have no entitlement
• You can decide who you appoint as executors and as guardians of infant children
• You can deal with tax and asset protection

Powers of Attorney

You can appoint someone to make decisions for you during your lifetime.

Property & Finance Lasting Power of Attorney

Decisions an attorney might need to make:

• Buying and selling property
• Opening, closing and operating bank accounts
• Claiming, receiving and using benefits, pensions, allowances, rebates
• Dealing with tax affairs
• Insuring, maintaining property

Health & Welfare LPA Lasting Power of Attorney

Decisions an attorney might need to make but can only be used if you lack capacity:

• Giving or refusing consent to medical examination and treatment
• Medical, dental or optical care
• Where the person should live, including residential care
• Day-to-day care including what to eat and wear
• Complaints about the person’s care or treatment

General Power of Attorney

For temporary or urgent matters:

• Decisions about your property and financial affairs
• Is valid while you have mental capacity
• You can limit the power you give to your attorney
• You can cancel them at any time or time-limit them
• They can be prepared at short notice
• They do not need to be registered/effective as soon as signed

These documents all require your signature and the signatures of witnesses. Social distancing should not delay you in making any of the above mentioned. We can provide you with detailed instructions on how to get these documents signed and witnessed.

Contact us

Please pick up the phone and give the Wills, Trusts and Probate team a call on 01228 552222 if you want to talk about anything covered in this guidance.