[Misc] Lasting Power of Attorney help

[Highfields Seagull]

Another vote for not needing a solicitor for this. There are many things in life where the expertise of a solicitor is well worth the money, but this isn't one of them - so easy to fill in online. It's expensive enough registering the POAs - no need to add to the cost with unnecessary legal fees.

 

[Triton]

I'm a 79 year old not that computer literate, my wife and have just done it DIY.
The only small problem l had was printing the completed forms out, my printer missed off the bottom section of all the forms. this part is where the Office of the Public Guardian stamp it with perforating machine, when they come to register it.
I had to reprint all 88 pages, luckily noticed it prior to submitting them. Witness signing date order is also critical all covered in the info pages.
It cost £82 for each LPA, ( welfare / health and property / finance for my wife and myself) £328 total.
Beat the solicitor's quote of £1400.

 

[Eddie Bee]

WE used Will Power in Worthing, half the price of a Solicitor, would recommend.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

I went to a solicitors who charged the earth and I ended up giving them legal advice! So I would not recommend them.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

There's a lot of people out there that are happy to hand money over at any given moment. Solicitors do know what they're doing. Like taking money off people for bog standard, straight forward paperwork.

 

[Nigella's Cream Pie]

Forms for health include option for 'Do Not Resuscitate', but you can also request that in a 'living will':

What is a living will (advance decision)? | Age UK

Advance decisions (sometimes called a 'living will') and advance statements let you make decisions now about your future care. Find out more from Age UK.

www.ageuk.org.uk

Also for some reason my parents nominated similarly aged friends as attorneys, who died of old age at which point I and my 2 siblings replaced them. We should have been nominated in the first place, would have saved that hassle. Old age in attorneys brings risk of them dying or developing dementia.

 

[dazzer6666]

There's a lot of people out there that are happy to hand money over at any given moment. Solicitors do know what they're doing. Like taking money off people for bog standard, straight forward paperwork.

Maybe, but there are plenty of risks and pitfalls in the process……maybe some would rather have all of those explained, get advice on any particular circumstances and have far less chance of the application being rejected. Easy to take a cheap shot at any profession on the basis that you could do the job cheaper yourself

 

[BrightonCottager]

I did a health and welfare one for my mum a few years ago. Printed the forms off gov.uk and it was fairly straight forward. I'm so glad we did it as her dementia accelerated afterwards and I've lost count of the numbers of times I've been asked if I had POA registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. As long as you have asked the person if they have any particular views on how they want to be treated (don't have to put these on a form). She is now in a care home in Brighton.

A word of warning about the financial side. Every single financial provider (banks, building societies, NS&I, pension providers, share administrators) I've dealt with has different requirements about what form you have to provide the POA in and proving your own identity. Some have an online portal you can upload documents to, others you have to get certified copies (which costs) of passports, driving licences and even a birth certificate and post them off. NS&I lost my original POA for a few months. It should be easier these days as you get a code from the OPG they can use ...in theory, although in practice only a few mention this on their websites.

Good luck.

 

[A mex eyecan]

So you guys have spurred me into action and Mrs and I are starting to do ours today. We had intended to do them some while ago, got so far and then sort of forgot all about it.

For us the awkward bit was if to give consent to not use if we have mental capacity or just allow it to be used when needed. Then if attorneys jointly or individually. Seeing they are our son and daughter and naturally we trust them implicitly then we’re tempted to opt for ‘use whenever’ and ‘individually’. instructions being house can’t be sold whilst we have mental capacity.

I’m sure others will have tales and experiences of where we may be wrong on this

 

[Westdene Seagull]

We used Britton & Time in Hove (because they have a tie-up with a school/charity I’m heavily involved in)……..they were very good. Can’t pinpoint the cost of the PoAs in isolation because we did some other stuff at the same time but they’ll quote before doing the work anyway

We used Britton & Time for our wills and they were very good. Also used Moore Kingston Smith for probate who were equally brilliant and also happen to have a famous BHA fan and NSC'er working for them.

 

[portlock seagull]

So you guys have spurred me into action and Mrs and I are starting to do ours today. We had intended to do them some while ago, got so far and then sort of forgot all about it.

For us the awkward bit was if to give consent to not use if we have mental capacity or just allow it to be used when needed. Then if attorneys jointly or individually. Seeing they are our son and daughter and naturally we trust them implicitly then we’re tempted to opt for ‘use whenever’ and ‘individually’. instructions being house can’t be sold whilst we have mental capacity.

I’m sure others will have tales and experiences of where we may be wrong on this

The key issue about mental capacity is you need to be tested for this to be determined. And you may not be willing to because of a fear of being controlled and/or the affects of say dementia. And there’s nothing anyone can do to force you to go and be tested. So your family are in limbo. Utterly powerless. When it’s obvious to all. Even with POA. Welcome to catch 22 and the reality of the system and how it can be played.

 

[portlock seagull]

I did a health and welfare one for my mum a few years ago. Printed the forms off gov.uk and it was fairly straight forward. I'm so glad we did it as her dementia accelerated afterwards and I've lost count of the numbers of times I've been asked if I had POA registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. As long as you have asked the person if they have any particular views on how they want to be treated (don't have to put these on a form). She is now in a care home in Brighton.

A word of warning about the financial side. Every single financial provider (banks, building societies, NS&I, pension providers, share administrators) I've dealt with has different requirements about what form you have to provide the POA in and proving your own identity. Some have an online portal you can upload documents to, others you have to get certified copies (which costs) of passports, driving licences and even a birth certificate and post them off. NS&I lost my original POA for a few months. It should be easier these days as you get a code from the OPG they can use ...in theory, although in practice only a few mention this on their websites.

Good luck.

This. Everyone does things differently and don’t even get me started on the sheer impracticalities of trying, the utter contradictions and incompetence of websites, customer services, availability, inadequate processes…BE PREPARED FOR A TOTAL NIGHTMARE and you won’t go far wrong. You need patience and stamina in spades managing POA related estates. Everything is designed to take years and nothing will be easy. And if this all needs doing during a pandemic then you can multiply the problems a thousand fold. And some.

 

[Pinkie Brown]

Absolutely DO NOT waste money on a solicitor. The form process is really basic stuff and not daunting in any way. A few years back I was quoted circa £250 by a legal notary to do one and for him to fill it in on my behalf. A spot of research soon revealed that to be unnecessary.

This subject has come up here before. Somebody mentioned a solicitor quoting £900! An absolute racket and easy money for them. You will need a witness or two prior to sending it away. That isn't a huge hassle. 'As I recall' only family, those with criminal records, undischarged bankrupts and a few other category are not deemed suitable witnesses. Somebody might wish to confirm or correct that as it was a few years back I done mine.

 

[A mex eyecan]

well that seemed easier as you did it. The decisions easier as you put things on paper.
Registered and paid on line.
Neighbour coming tonight to witness signature/s.
Then a great excuse for a dinner with the kids some point over the weekend to get them to sign off as attorneys.

As Mrs and I have no income we are entitled to a 50% cost reduction so total costs were 4 x £41.

Lot cheaper than a solicitor!

 

[dazzer6666]

Absolutely DO NOT waste money on a solicitor. The form process is really basic stuff and not daunting in any way. A few years back I was quoted circa £250 by a legal notary to do one and for him to fill it in on my behalf. A spot of research soon revealed that to be unnecessary.

This subject has come up here before. Somebody mentioned a solicitor quoting £900! An absolute racket and easy money for them. You will need a witness or two prior to sending it away. That isn't a huge hassle. 'As I recall' only family, those with criminal records, undischarged bankrupts and a few other category are not deemed suitable witnesses. Somebody might wish to confirm or correct that as it was a few years back I done mine.

…….unless you’re uncomfortable with the process (some people will be for good reason) or have anything remotely unusual in your affairs. The prospect if a ****ed up PoA is even worse than not having one.

 

[BLOCK F]

My wife and I along with my sister employed the family solicitors to do our LPA’s. All done and dusted with no hassle.
Yes, I dare say we could have gone along the DIY route, but it would have down to me to organise it etc. Nah, I don’t mind spending the dosh to get someone else to do it. You pays your money and takes your choice. In this instance at 75, I chose to pay. As they say, when you get older, service is often more important than things!
Nevertheless, well done to those who’ve done it for themselves.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

…….unless you’re uncomfortable with the process (some people will be for good reason) or have anything remotely unusual in your affairs. The prospect if a ****ed up PoA is even worse than not having one.

You must be a solicitor. Bet you charge Bozza for every post + vat.

 

[dazzer6666]

You must be a solicitor. Bet you charge Bozza for every post + vat.

Hah, I wish

 

[um bongo molongo]

from your experiences does it really need a solicitor to do this?

Done it recently. It definitely doesn’t