Legal News | 16.04.20

Private Client Update

End of Life Care Decisions

During these unprecedented times, many of us will be turning our minds to previously overlooked topics. One of these may be decisions about our end of life care.

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) are legal documents that appoints one or more individuals, called attorneys, to make decisions on your behalf. There are two types of LPAs: Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare.

Health and Welfare

This type of LPA can be used to help make medical decisions ranging from day to day care (washing, dressing, eating etc.) to end of life decisions. This document can only be used by your attorney(s) if you lose mental capacity.

Even more so, in the current climate, you may wish to have your family and loved ones involved in your care decisions, which are often set out in Advanced Directives

An Advanced Directive is a document which sets out the details of your healthcare wishes, this can include whether you wish to have particular treatment in the future and when you would like to stop receiving treatment. We can help you prepare this Advanced Directive, based on your instructions, to incorporate into your LPA for Health and Welfare.

Property and Financial Affairs

Under this type of LPA, your chosen attorney(s) can help manage your finances by arranging payment of bills, withdrawing money and they can manage the sale of your property. Your attorney(s) can start acting for you once the document has been registered, with your permission, or when you have lost mental capacity.

Wansbroughs are happy to discuss and prepare your LPAs for Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare, to accurately reflect your lifetime wishes and discuss how to give your attorneys as much or as little flexibility as you like.

Will signing

Wansbroughs continues to monitor legal changes and are in contact with our local MP. Should any changes be made we will be sure to update you.