Lasting Powers of Attorney: Who should you appoint to look after your affairs?

For lots of our clients, having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place provides the peace of mind that if they need assistance in the future in looking after their finances or making healthcare decisions, other people have been authorised to assist them in this regard.

However, last night’s television programme on ITV Tonight highlighted the dangers of appointing the wrong attorney to look after your financial affairs.

The programme brought attention to issues around appointing attorneys who then misuse the power granted to them to take financial advantage of relatives and friends. It can be very easy to put an LPA in place and, unfortunately, unscrupulous people may take advantage of this to use the document for their own gain.

Caroline Bielanska of Solicitors for the Elderly highlighted that clients can be protected by using a professional who can talk to the individual making the LPA about the potential dangers and safeguards that can be included in the document.

Head over to the ITV Hub to catch up with the programme.

Helen Gott of this firm is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly and Emsleys Solicitors' Wills & Probate team have undergone Dementia Friends training. 

If you would like to talk about the issues raised in the programme, have any queries about your Lasting Power of Attorney or would like to put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, then please contact 0113 201 4900.