Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more people (known as attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. 

There are two types:

Health and Welfare – covers decisions about medical treatment, care, and daily routines.

Property and Financial Affairs – covers decisions about finances, bills, and property.

The person making the LPA (known as the donor) must have mental capacity at the time to decide to set this up.

Understanding LPA

Without a registered LPA, important decisions about the patients care may have to be made by health or social care professionals or require lengthy court applications to the Court of Protection.

How to Apply and Register

You can gain more information, and apply for an LPA through the official government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

A fee is required to register an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian.

What happens if there is no LPA in place?

Even without an LPA in place, we will still engage with you or Next of Kin when making decisions, recognising that working together helps to keep your values, wishes, and needs central to the care or support provided.