Power of Attorney.

Enquire Now

Power of Attorney Services in Exeter, Cullompton, and Tiverton. 

Planning for the unexpected is crucial to ensure your affairs are managed according to your wishes if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. At Gorman Legal, I offer comprehensive Power of Attorney services in Exeter, Cullompton, Tiverton, and across Devon, helping you set up and manage Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). With nearly 20 years of experience, I’m here to provide expert guidance, giving you and your loved ones peace of mind and security.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? 

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you can’t. There are two main types of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA):

Property and Financial Affairs LPA

This type of LPA allows your attorney to manage your financial matters, such as:

  • Paying bills and managing bank accounts
  • Handling property transactions
  • Overseeing investments and other financial assets

Health and Welfare LPA 

This type of LPA allows your attorney to make decisions about your healthcare and personal welfare, including:

  • Medical treatment and care arrangements
  • Decisions regarding where you live and how you’re cared for
  • Consent or refusal to life-sustaining treatment

Why You Need a Lasting Power of Attorney 

Having a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures your affairs are handled according to your wishes if you become incapacitated. It provides reassurance that someone you trust will make important decisions on your behalf, easing the burden on your loved ones during difficult times.

  • Peace of Mind: Know that your financial and health-related matters will be managed by someone who understands your preferences and values.
  • Avoid Delays and Legal Challenges: Without an LPA, your family may face legal complications and delays in managing your affairs.
  • Personalised Care and Financial Management: Ensure your healthcare decisions and financial management align with your personal values and wishes.

How I Can Help with Power of Attorney Services 

I provide comprehensive support to help you create and manage Lasting Powers of Attorney that are tailored to your needs. Here’s what I can do for you:

Drafting and Creating Powers of Attorney 

I’ll help you create Property and Financial Affairs LPAs and Health and Welfare LPAs that are customized to your situation. I ensure your documents are legally sound, clear, and meet your specific requirements.

Reviewing and Updating Existing Powers of Attorney 

If you already have a Power of Attorney, I can review and update it to reflect any changes in your circumstances or wishes. This ensures your documents stay relevant and accurate over time.

Guidance on Choosing an Attorney 

Selecting the right person to act as your attorney is a crucial decision. I’ll guide you through choosing someone trustworthy who understands your wishes and can handle the responsibility effectively.

Advising on the Use of Lasting Powers of Attorney 

I provide guidance on how your Lasting Powers of Attorney can be used effectively, including the scope of authority granted and how your attorney should manage responsibilities. I’m also here to help manage any disputes or challenges that might arise.

Registering Lasting Powers of Attorney 

I’ll assist you with registering your Lasting Powers of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian, ensuring your documents are legally recognised and ready for use when needed.

Why Choose Me for Lasting Power of Attorney Services? 

Client-Focused Service 

  • Personalised Documentation: You’ll work directly with me to ensure your Lasting Power of Attorney is set up exactly as you intend.
  • Tailored Advice: I take the time to understand your situation and craft a Power of Attorney that reflects your personal wishes, whether it’s for managing your finances, your health, or both.

Expert Legal Guidance

  • Nearly 20 Years of Experience: I’ll guide you through the legal process of creating Powers of Attorney, ensuring your documents are legally sound and fit your specific needs.
  • Specialist Knowledge: As a STEP-qualified expert, I provide in-depth understanding and practical solutions for complex scenarios.

Compassionate Support and Clear Guidance 

  • Empathy and Sensitivity: Planning for a time when you may not be able to make decisions yourself can be emotional. I’m here to support you with compassion and clarity.
  • Straightforward Process: I make the process simple and straightforward, reducing stress for you and your family.

Get In Touch

To make a free, no obligation enquiry call me on 01884 216106 or send a free online enquiry and I’ll call you back shortly.

Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney is an essential step in protecting your future and ensuring your affairs are managed properly. Don’t wait until it’s too late—get in touch today.

Free Enquiry

lasting-powers-of-attorney-devon

Attorneys and Deputies.

If you’re appointed as an attorney there may come a time when you need to actually start using the Power of Attorney to help the person who appointed you.

If you’re appointed as a Deputy by the Court of Protection then you’re going to need to get involved in the person’s affairs immediately.

Acting as an Attorney or Deputy is something that most people are not familiar with. This can seem a daunting prospect. If you get it wrong then you can be held personally liable for any mistakes or oversights that you make – you’ll then have to pay money out of your own pocket.

It’s important for you to take advice about your role at the outset and when key decisions have to be made. You’re entitled to recover the cost of the advice from the assets that you’re managing.

We’ll be able to advise you on:

  • how to know when you should start using the Power of Attorney
  • how you go about using or activating the Power of Attorney
  • registering an Enduring Power of Attorney
  • how you should make decisions
  • the scope of the authority given to you by the Power of Attorney
  • what you should and shouldn’t do when acting as an attorney
  • making gifts
  • making investment decisions
  • buying and selling property
  • any other questions you have

By taking the appropriate advice at the outset things are much more likely to run smoothly and without any hassle. This will benefit you and the person whose affairs you’re managing.

Contact Me

Powers of Attorney in Devon

FAQs about Powers of Attorney.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. There are two types of LPAs: one for Property and Financial Affairs and one for Health and Welfare. These allow your attorney to manage your financial matters or make decisions about your medical care and personal welfare.

An Ordinary Power of Attorney only gives someone the authority to act on your behalf while you still have the mental capacity to make decisions. In contrast, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) continues to be valid if you lose the capacity to make decisions yourself, providing long-term protection.

Having a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures that your affairs are managed according to your wishes if you lose the ability to make decisions. This gives you control over who will manage your finances or make healthcare decisions on your behalf, and it can ease the burden on your loved ones during stressful times.

Under a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, your attorney can handle paying bills, managing bank accounts, selling property, and other financial matters. A Health and Welfare LPA allows your attorney to make decisions about your healthcare, medical treatments, where you live, and your personal welfare.

To set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), you need to complete a form and register it with the Office of the Public Guardian. I can guide you through the entire process, ensuring that your LPA is legally sound, properly registered, and tailored to your specific needs.

The cost of creating a Lasting Power of Attorney depends on whether you’re setting up one or both types of LPA (Property and Financial Affairs, or Health and Welfare). There’s also a registration fee with the Office of the Public Guardian. I offer competitive, transparent pricing, so you’ll know the costs upfront. Call me now for a quote.

Yes, you can change or cancel your Lasting Power of Attorney at any time, as long as you still have mental capacity. If your circumstances change or you wish to appoint a different attorney, I can help you update or revoke your LPA.

If you do decide to appoint more than one attorney, you need to decide how you want them to act – either ‘jointly’ or ‘jointly and severally’. Jointly means that all your attorneys have to make decisions together. Jointly and severally means that they can make decisions on their own, without the agreement of the other attorneys. With joint and several appointments, any action taken by any attorney alone is as valid as if they were the only attorney. It is up to your attorneys to choose how they make decisions but they must always act in your best interests.

Most people choose the joint and several option because attorneys can make simple or urgent decisions quickly and easily, without asking your other attorney. In addition, if an attorney can no longer act, the Lasting Power of Attorney will not be cancelled if you’ve appointed them jointly and severally.

You should appoint someone you trust to act in your best interests, as they’ll have significant responsibility. The attorney you choose should be reliable, organised, and willing to follow your wishes. I can provide guidance on selecting the right person for the role.

Yes, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) needs to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. I can assist you in registering your LPA, ensuring that it’s legally recognised and ready for use when needed.

If you lose mental capacity and don’t have a Lasting Power of Attorney, your family may need to apply to the court for a deputyship to manage your affairs. This can be a more complicated, lengthy, and expensive process, and your family may not have the control or authority that you would have preferred.

Yes, you can appoint more than one person as your attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney. You can choose for them to act jointly (making all decisions together) or jointly and severally (where they can make decisions independently of each other). I can help you decide which arrangement best suits your needs.

Once you complete the forms, it typically takes 8 to 10 weeks for the Office of the Public Guardian to register your Lasting Power of Attorney. I ensure that the process is as smooth and efficient as possible, guiding you every step of the way.

Make a free enquiry today

"*" indicates required fields