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Lasting Power of Attorney

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows a person to give someone the legal power to make decisions on their behalf if they later become unable to make their own decisions.

To make an LPA the person must be 18 or over and have mental capacity when making the LPA.  There are two types of LPA:

1. Health and welfare lasting power of attorney - Can only be used when the person is unable to make their own decisions.

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:

  • daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating
  • medical care
  • moving into a care home
  • life-sustaining treatment

2. Property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney - Can be used as soon as it is registered with the person's permission.

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property on the person's behalf, for example:

  • managing a bank or building society account
  • paying bills
  • collecting benefits or a pension
  • selling your home

Further guidance can be found here.