Services for you

Home / Services for you / Wills and estate administration / Lasting powers of attorney

Lasting powers of attorney

The potential of losing the capacity to make decisions for yourself can be daunting.   Establishing a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures that your affairs – both medical and financial - will be handled by the people you trust in the event that you can no longer do so.

Lasting Powers of Attorney are just as important as a Will. Where a Will outlines your wishes after your death, a Lasting Powers of Attorney is for managing your affairs during your lifetime, if you lose the capacity to do so. It’s common to set up both documents simultaneously to create a comprehensive plan.

At Owen White Catlin, we provide advice and support through every step, helping you to understand how the process works and what the implications of certain decisions will be. We will advise you on the best people to appoint as your attorney and when and how they will be used. We will also sit down with you to outline any implications and ensure your LPA works effectively for you and your family.

Our Lasting Powers of Attorney services include:

  • Establishing a Lasting Power of Attorney
  • Appointing attorneys
  • Advice for attorneys
  • Registering the Power of Attorney

We appreciate how challenging the context in which you may find yourself seeking to establish a Lasting Power of Attorney can be. Rest assured that our services will be both practical and personable, meaning that you can focus on what’s important in the present, knowing your affairs are secured in the future.

We also recognise how important it is to act promptly when establishing Lasting Powers of Attorney. Our expert solicitors will work tirelessly to provide you with the tools, knowledge and confidence you need to ensure your LPA protects you and reflects your wishes. Having our excellent legal knowledge throughout the process will give peace of mind that all implications and complications are considered and managed with accuracy and efficiency.

Talk to one of our Powers of Attorney solicitors today

Please contact us today to talk to one of our specialist solicitors about setting up a Power of Attorney or if you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss your case. You can reach us by using our easy online enquiry form or by calling us on one of our office numbers directly. Our expert team are ready to provide compassionate advice whenever you need it.

Why work with our Powers of Attorney solicitors?

Our Powers of Attorney team has proudly served families throughout South West London, Surrey, and Middlesex for many years. We are delighted to be able to provide dedicated, expert assistance to help clients establish Powers of Attorney that ensure their wishes are safeguarded.

We have solicitors who are proud members of the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), so you can feel confident that you're supported by a specialist who will provide the highest standard of support.

We understand that appointing someone to manage your affairs requires trust and careful planning. At Owen White Catlin, we prioritise sensitivity and transparency, providing solutions that respect your preferences and help you feel secure in your decisions for the sake of yourself and your loved ones. Open and clear communication is at the heart of our service. We make it a point to keep you informed at each step, with every decision led by your wishes.

We’re fully transparent about fees: you’ll receive a comprehensive cost outline from the beginning, and we’ll promptly update you if any additional expenses are incurred along the way. We truly feel that excellent legal support should be universally accessible, which is why we offer a range of funding options, from fixed fees to hourly rates, depending on the complexity of your needs.

If you have questions about funding or any other element of the process, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will clearly explain all your options to help you make the most informed choice. All our branches are proud to be staffed with knowledgeable, compassionate team members ready to assist you whenever you need us.

Our Powers of Attorney services

Establishing a Lasting Power of Attorney

Establishing a lasting power of attorney (LPA) gives you the assurance that your financial, property, and health decisions will be in trusted hands. Our solicitors help you create an LPA that accurately reflects your preferences, ensuring your chosen attorney understands and can act on your behalf if needed, meaning you can be confident about the future of your estate.

An attorney appointed will be able to make important decisions regarding your property and financial affairs, your health and welfare, or both. At Owen White Catlin, we approach LPA establishment carefully, tailoring each arrangement to your unique circumstances. We are committed to ensuring that your choices are protected and respected, giving you and your family peace of mind for the future.

Appointing attorneys

Appointing attorneys under an LPA is an important decision. It allows you to name trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf should you become unable to do so. Whilst this is a daunting task, our solicitors provide expert guidance to ensure that the appointment process is thorough and legally sound, reflecting your wishes with clarity and detail.

At Owen White Catlin, we understand the significance of selecting the right individuals to act on your behalf, and we handle each appointment with the respect and sensitivity it deserves to ensure your legacy is in the right hands. Our team is here to support you in making an informed choice, securing your future interests with the utmost professionalism.

Advice for attorneys

Acting as an attorney is a major responsibility. Our solicitors can provide tailored advice to attorneys, ensuring that they understand their role and the duties they have been appointed to carry out.

Frequently asked questions about Powers of Attorney

What are the types of Powers of Attorney?

There are three types of Powers of Attorney that you should carefully consider with regard to your personal circumstances. These are:

  • Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) – A legal document in which an attorney is appointed to help someone make important decisions regarding their financial affairs and healthcare in the event they lose capacity.
    • There are two types of LPAs: property and financial affairs LPAs and health and welfare LPAs.
  • Enduring Power of Attorney – An obsolete forerunner to an LPA, which only caters for financial needs. These are no longer established but will be valid if set up prior to 2007. It is recommended to replace these with an LPA.
  • Ordinary Power of Attorney – These differ from LPAs and EPAs in the sense that they are only established for a limited timeframe, for example, if someone will be temporarily incapacitated due to healthcare. For this reason, it is only in regard to financial affairs.

What do Powers of Attorney do?

Powers of Attorney give someone that you trust the permission to make important decisions regarding your healthcare and finances if you are no longer able to make them yourself due to incapacity. These are established when you are of sound mind and are capable of deciding who to appoint yourself.

Talk to one of our Powers of Attorney solicitors

Please contact us today to talk to one of our specialist solicitors about setting up a Power of Attorney or if you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss your case. You can reach us by using our easy online enquiry form or by calling us on one of our office numbers directly. Our expert team are ready to provide compassionate advice whenever you need it.