If you care for someone, you may need to manage their affairs. Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) helps protect people aged 16 or older who can’t make certain decisions due to disabilities, mental health issues, or illnesses like dementia.
You choose people you trust to make decisions on your behalf about money and financial matters, including:
- Opening, closing and using your bank or building society accounts
- Claiming, receiving and using your benefits, pensions and allowances
- Paying household and other bills
- Buying and selling your house and other property
You may wish to either have one type of LPA or both (Property and finance and health and welfare), and you can choose to have more than one or more people to act as `Attorneys.`
You can find more information on our Lasting Power of Attorney Factsheet by downloading the following PDF.
You choose people you trust to make decisions on your behalf about things such as
- Giving or refusing consent to particular types of health care, including medical treatment.
- You are staying in your own home and getting help and support from social services
- Whether you move into residential care and find a good care home
- Day-to-day matters such as your diet, dress or daily routine
You may wish to either have one type of LPA or both (Property and finance and health and welfare), and you can choose to have more than one or more people to act as `Attorneys.`
You can find more information on our Lasting Power of Attorney Factsheet by downloading the following PDF.
You can download the forms to create, register, object or disclaim a lasting power of attorney or do this online by visiting the GOV.UK website:
Manage power of attorney online
If you need to make decisions for someone who has lost their mental capacity and there is not a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, you can apply to the Court of Protection to appoint someone as a 'Deputy'. A Deputy will be someone who knows the person well.
For more information on becoming a Deputy see our Making Decisions on Behalf of Someone Else Factsheet by clicking and downloading the following PDF
You can find further help and support via the websites below:
Related pages
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