Lasting Powers of Attorney

An LPA is its own document, separate from a will. There are two kinds, and each is a separate order line:

• LPA · Property & Financial - decisions about money and property.
• LPA · Health & Welfare - decisions about health and care.

Each spouse has their own LPAs, and a person can have both kinds. They share most of the form; only the final option differs between the two.

What you'll fill in (both kinds)#

Section	What you set	Default
Donor	The person granting the LPA (usually the client): title, name, address, date of birth, contact details.	-
Attorneys	Who acts for the donor (at least one), and how they must act: jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly for some decisions and severally for the rest.	Jointly and severally
Replacement attorneys	Who steps in if an original attorney can't act, and whether they step in on the same terms or all together.	On the same terms as the originals
Certificate provider	The independent person confirming the donor understands the LPA - qualifying either because they've known the donor for at least two years, or through professional skills.	Known the donor 2+ years
People to be told	Optional - up to five people notified when the LPA is registered.	none
Preferences	Non-binding wishes the attorneys should consider.	-
Instructions	Binding directions the attorneys must follow.	-

The LPA records each attorney's full details (name, date of birth and address), so make sure those are complete.

Property & Financial only#

Setting	Choices	Default	What it does
When this LPA can be used	As soon as it's registered (with the donor's consent) · Only once the donor lacks mental capacity	Only once the donor lacks capacity	Whether the attorneys can start acting while the donor still has capacity, or only once they don't.

Health & Welfare only#

Setting	Choices	Default	What it does
Life-sustaining treatment	Option A - attorneys can decide · Option B - doctors decide	Option A	Whether the attorneys can give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment, or whether that's left to the doctors acting in the donor's best interests.