Lasting Powers of Attorney and General Powers of Attorney

The Office of the Public Guardian say they are aiming to register LPAs within 40 working days (8 weeks) but experience has shown this can be nearer 12 weeks which, for many is far too long.  More so now that Covid-19 is having an impact on the health of individuals who may need their Attorneys to help them sooner rather than later.

The reality is that, despite best efforts, the timescales may slip further.  As a precautionary measure, we would advise that you sign a general Power of Attorney at the same time as signing your LPA which will allow your Attorneys to administer your affairs with your permission pending registration of your LPA.  For instance if you are in hospital, you might need your Attorneys to help pay bills or talk to your bank or building society.  If your LPA has not yet been registered this may not be possible.

The general Power of Attorney is a powerful document and gives your Attorneys the same powers to manage your affairs as they would have under an LPA .  However,  it could not be used if you lost mental capacity.  The general Power of Attorney can be used to manage all of your affairs or it can be limited to a specific purpose e.g. selling a property, managing bank accounts.

Speak to our expert Lawyers

Whilst our offices are closed to clients visiting in person we are happy to have virtual meetings with you and we can send you any documents and correspondence by email.  Our Private Client team can help advise in relation to LPAs and general Powers of Attorney and can be contacted on 03456 381381 or wills@ibblaw.co.uk