The message about the importance of LPAs appears to be getting through.  The Office of the Public Guardian report that they registered over 800,000 in 2019 compared to 273,000 in 2013.    The OPG are keen to extend this even further and are encouraging everyone over 18 to make LPAs under their recently launched “Your Voice, Your Decision” Campaign.

Certainly we would encourage everyone to make appropriate Powers of Attorney but care does need to be taken.  A number of LPAs are being created without any legal advice and this perhaps reflects the very significant increase in the number of complaints being raised with the Office of the Public Guardian about LPAs being misused.   They are important documents that can be very helpful but they are powerful and it is important that appropriate professional advice is obtained before putting them in place.

Please do contact us if you have any queries at all as we would be only too happy to help with the appropriate advice.