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Advice for you

Powers of Attorney

Whether you are concerned about what would happen if you became ill or infirm in future or simply need to authorise someone to act for you in a business or personal matter, a Power of Attorney can be highly useful.

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Our legal experts can draft and register a Power of Attorney that empowers a trusted family member or professional person to make important decisions for you about matters such as your property, finances, health and welfare. We can ensure your Attorney is able to act exactly as needed, while placing clear limits on their powers, protecting your interests.

We also regularly advise people acting under a Power of Attorney. Our team can help you to understand and effectively discharge your duties, giving you peace of mind that you are acting in the best interests of the person who placed their trust in you.

Free 30-minute initial appointment

We offer a free initial appointment to discuss your needs and how we can help with you with a Power of Attorney.

Speak to our Power of Attorney solicitors now

To speak to our Power of Attorney solicitors and arrange your free initial consultation, please contact our local offices in Christchurch or Ringwood.

Have a quick question you want answered? Use our simple online enquiry form and we will get back to you promptly.

How our power of attorney solicitors can help you

Making a Lasting Powers of Attorney

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) allow you to plan ahead for if you ever lose the ability to make decisions about your personal affairs. You can authorise a loved one or a professional such as a solicitor to assist you with making decisions or make decisions for you as required.

Our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors can help you draft an LPA that matches your needs. There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney you may want to consider:

Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney – covering decisions about issues such as your medical care, care arrangements and daily routine e.g. your diet.

Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney – covering decisions about issues including your home, pension and other benefits, bank accounts and savings.

For more information, please read our Lasting Power of Attorney factsheet.

Or, if you have more questions, read our dedicated LPA article here.

Registering an Enduring Power of Attorney

Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) were replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney on October 1, 2007. However, an EPA made and signed before this date can still be registered and used.

Our team will be happy to review an EPA for you and advise you on whether it is still usable or whether it needs to be replaced with an LPA. Where required, we can help you to register an EPA and advise you on its application.

Business Powers of Attorney

A Business Power of Attorney is a type of Property and Financial Affairs LPA that is drafted specifically to deal with decisions about your business. If you are a business owner or shareholder, this can ensure that important decisions about your business can be made if you ever lose the capacity to do so yourself.

Working with our Commercial Law team, we can advise you on the issues you will need to consider, then draft a clear Power of Attorney that protects your interests and those of your business.

General Powers of Attorney

General Powers of Attorney (GPAs) are normally used where you wish to empower someone to deal with a specific matter for you. This might be while you are going on holiday or into hospital, or it might be where you need someone to carry out business abroad for you e.g. buying property.

Our Power of Attorney solicitors can assist you with drafting a GPA that matches your requirements, giving you confidence that your affairs will be handled properly by your Attorney.

For more information, please read our General Powers of Attorney factsheet.

Acting under a Power of Attorney

Acting as an Attorney is an important responsibility, so it is a good idea to have expert legal advice. This can give you confidence that you are acting properly under the terms of the Power of Attorney and are making the right decisions for the person who placed their trust in you.

Our Power of Attorney pricing

Fixed fee Powers of Attorney

We can typically draft and register a Power of Attorney for a fixed priced agreed in advance. This means you will know exactly how much it will cost to get a Power of Attorney before deciding to move forward.

Hourly rates

If you need ongoing support e.g. when acting as an Attorney, we can work to a set hourly rate. This allows us to give you exactly as much support as you need, while making sure your costs remain clear at all times.

Why choose Frettens solicitors for your Power of Attorney?

We have many years of experience helping clients to create and use Powers of Attorney for a range of circumstances, so can provide clear, tried-and-tested advice in plain English, giving you confidence that you are making the right decisions at all times.

Communication is key to dealing with these kinds of complex legal matters in a way that keeps your stress to a minimum. When you work with us, we will assign a dedicated member of our team to your case. They will get to know you and your needs, being available by phone, email and face-to-face when you need them.

We offer a free initial appointment because we believe the value of our expertise speaks for itself. You should always feel completely comfortable in the choices you make, so we will be happy to answer your questions and we will never place any pressure on you to move forward with anything that doesn’t feel right for you and your loved ones.

Frettens Solicitors is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

 

Power of Attorney FAQs

What is a Power of Attorney?

Power of Attorney is someone you trust who you believe will make decisions in your best interests and take care of your finances and sign forms for you if you have an accident or become ill and are no longer physically or mentally able to deal with your own affairs.

How do you appoint a Power of Attorney?

This can be achieved by signing a document called a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’, known as an LPA.  It can only be completed while you have mental capacity.  There are two types of LPA; one for property and financial affairs and one for health and welfare.

What is a lasting power of attorney?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows an individual to give someone that they trust (e.g. family member) the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf if they lose mental capacity in the future.

There are two types of lasting power of attorney – “property and affairs” and “personal welfare”. By setting up a lasting power of attorney you can therefore appoint one or more people of your choosing (the attorneys) to deal with your financial affairs, your personal welfare, or both. This can include:

  • giving your attorneys access to your bank accounts
  • paying your bills
  • dealing with your medical care
  • selling your property if required
  • generally handling your affairs

Further information on LPAs can be found here.

    Get in touch with our Power of Attorney solicitors today

    To arrange your free initial consultation with our Power of Attorney solicitors, please contact our local offices in Christchurch or Ringwood. Have a quick question you want answered? Use our simple online enquiry form and we will get back to you promptly.

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