Lasting Powers of Attorney Solicitors in Leeds

Our trusted Wills & Probate Team can help you create Lasting Powers of Attorney, giving peace of mind should anything unexpected happen.

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) allow you to choose who makes decisions about your property and finances, and your health and welfare if you ever become unable to do so yourself.

Our trusted team has a wealth of experience handling all aspects of Powers of Attorney.

Lasting Power of Attorney legal support in Leeds and the Yorkshire region

We recommend that all adults plan for the future and have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place, even those in perfect health.

It’s not always possible to know what is around the corner. An accident, illness or condition affecting your mental health could reduce your capacity to make decisions for yourself.

When you create a LPA, you (the ‘donor’) will appoint one or more trusted people (‘attorneys’) to make decisions on your behalf in this were to ever happen.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney.

• Property and financial affairs: Power to manage bank accounts, make investments, handle income, run business operations, and sell or manage your property.

• Health and welfare: Power to make decisions about medical care, residential care arrangements, where you live and life-sustaining treatments.

It is the attorney’s duty to always act in your best interests. You have the ability to choose different attorneys for each type of LPA and give them detailed instructions to guide their decision making.

How we work

We offer a first-class service in preparing and registering financial and welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney.

We will walk you through every stage of the process and draft a document that accurately reflects your wishes. We will also register the LPA at the Office of the Public Guardian.

We can provide your attorneys with practical advice as to how to use the LPA when dealing with banks, building societies and buyers or sellers of property.

All our Power of Attorney work is done for a fixed fee, with no hidden costs – explore our fixed fees.

Trust our award-winning team

From our office at No. 6 Colton Mill in Leeds, we’ve helped hundreds of people across the Leeds and Yorkshire region to draft effective Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Our expert Wills & Probate team offers the full range of estate planning services, including Will writing, inheritance tax planning and deputyship, so you’re covered for every life eventuality.

We are proud to be a Legal 500 Leading Firm with a regional reputation for top-quality service. We are rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot and 98% of customers say they would use us again.

Power of Attorney: frequently asked questions

Is a LPA just for the elderly or ill people?

No. It is easy to presume an LPA is only relevant later in life, but an accident, illness or loss of mental capacity can happen at any age.

Can I use an LPA while I still have full mental capacity?

It depends on the type of LPA.

A property and financial affairs LPA can be used as soon as it is registered, as long as you give permission.

A health and welfare LPA can only be used if you lose the capacity to make these decisions yourself.

Why should I choose a solicitor to create my LPA?

A poorly-drafted LPA could result in disputes between attorneys, or even be rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian. We would always recommend having these documents professionally prepared.

Doesn’t my spouse or next of kin automatically have the right to decide for me?

No. It is a common misconception that there is an automatic legal right for a spouse or next of kin to make decisions on your behalf.

This only arises if you have an LPA in place, or if the Court of Protection appoints someone.

What happens if I don’t have an LPA and lose capacity?

Your loved ones must apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as a deputy. This process can be slower and more expensive than having an LPA in place initially.

How long does it take to create an LPA?

It only takes a few weeks from the initial appointment to take your instructions to having the documents prepared.

The process can be quicker if all Attorneys can be in attendance at the signing appointment. If the LPA needs to be posted out to Attorneys, this will of course add additional time to the process.

Once the LPA is submitted for registration, it can take the Office of the Public Guardian up to 12 weeks to deal with the formalities.

Can I cancel or change an LPA later on?

Yes. It’s possible to cancel an LPA or make a new one at any time as long as you still have mental capacity, but once completed you cannot add or replace attorneys to the existing document.