Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Solicitors

If you become unwell or lose the ability to make decisions, everyday life can become difficult very quickly. It may be as simple as paying bills and managing bank accounts, or as serious as decisions about care and medical treatment. A Lasting Power of Attorney lets you choose people you trust to step in if you ever need support, rather than leaving decisions to chance.

Our role is to help you put the right Lasting Powers of Attorney in place, properly prepared and registered, so they are ready when needed. We guide you through the choices, explain the options clearly, and make sure the documents reflect how you want decisions to be made.

People come to us for many reasons. You might be planning ahead as part of wider estate planning, responding to a health concern, or putting arrangements in place for peace of mind as you get older. You may also want added safeguards, for example where family circumstances are complex, where there is a vulnerable relative, or where you want clear boundaries around how attorneys can act.

We will guide you in clear language, with a steady plan for what happens next. You will have a clear point of contact and an organised process from drafting through to registration. If your plans also involve updating a Will, setting up trusts, or thinking about longer-term family arrangements, we can bring the right specialists together so your advice is joined up and practical.

Our private client work is supported by recognised standards and professional membership. The firm holds Lexcel, the Law Society’s practice management standard, and the team includes members of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, offering added reassurance that you are in safe hands.

We make it possible to put practical safeguards in place, with clarity and control.

If you would like to talk things through, please get in touch. We’ll listen, ask a few focused questions and explain the next best steps with clear options.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint another person (known as your Attorney) to make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so yourself. in circumstances where you cannot do so for yourself (or do not wish to). You can appoint a friend, relative or professional person to be your Attorney.

Contrary to popular belief, your spouse, partner, or children do not automatically have the authority to make decisions for you. Without an LPA, important choices may be left unaddressed. If you operate a business (as a Sole Trader, through a limited company, or a partnership), it’s essential to plan for potential incapacity. A Business LPA ensures continuity and allows your chosen representative to manage business affairs effectively.

Many people create LPAs later in life, but it’s equally important during working years. Consider the broader impact of incapacity on your business and personal life.

An LPA comes in two main types:

Property and Financial Affairs: This covers decisions related to your finances, property, and assets. This allows your attorney to make decisions on your behalf about matters such as paying bills, collecting income and benefits or selling your home. The power can be subject to restrictions or conditions.
Health and Welfare: This focuses on health-related decisions, including medical treatment and care. This allows your attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your personal welfare including whether to give or refuse consent to medical treatment.

Many clients select both options and we can advise and discuss the benefits with you.

What are the benefits of an LPA?

Allows you to choose the people who you want to make decisions on your behalf and how you want those people to make those decisions.
An LPA can be registered at the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) as soon as the documents have been executed, for added peace of mind.
An attorney can act on your behalf if you were to lose mental capacity suddenly as the result of a tragic life event.
Provides you with protection from abuse.
Makes the attorney accountable for their actions and the decisions they make.
Avoids any need for an application to the Court of Protection to appoint a Deputy which can be both expensive and time consuming.

To speak to our Wills, trusts and probate specialists please call us on 01772 258321 or make an enquiry below to see how we can assist you and your business.

How Harrison Drury can help with a Lasting Power of Attorney

Putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place is about making sure the right people can support you if you need help making decisions in the future. We can guide you through the process clearly, helping you understand the choices you are making and put arrangements in place that reflect your wishes.

We will talk through the different types of Lasting Power of Attorney, who you may wish to appoint as your attorneys and how you would like them to act. We can also explain the practical effect of any instructions or preferences you are considering, so you understand how they may work in practice before you make a decision.

Our role is to make the process feel straightforward and well managed. We will help you prepare the necessary documentation, explain what needs to happen at each stage and keep you informed as matters progress.

For some people, a Lasting Power of Attorney forms part of wider planning for the future. Where appropriate, we can bring in colleagues across our private client team to help you consider related matters such as your will, trusts, estate planning or arrangements for later life. This joined-up approach means you can look at the bigger picture without having to coordinate different advisers yourself.

You will have a clear point of contact who stays close to the detail and is available to answer questions as they arise. We will explain costs clearly from the outset and discuss the scope of the work with you, including fixed-fee options where appropriate.

We make it possible to put clear, practical arrangements in place for the future, giving you greater confidence that the people you trust can step in when needed.

Talk to our Lasting Power of Attorney solicitors

Whether you are putting a LPA in place for the first time, reviewing existing arrangements or helping a family member, we can help you understand your options and decide what is right for you.

You will have trusted legal experts who take the time to understand what matters to you, explain each step clearly and help you put arrangements in place with confidence. Where your wider plans involve wills, trusts, estate planning or other private client matters, we can bring the right specialists together so you receive joined-up support.

Known throughout the North, with offices spanning Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria and Staffordshire, including Preston, Clitheroe, Garstang, Kendal, Lancaster, Lytham, Manchester, Southport and Stoke, we offer accessible support that stays close to what matters to you.

Call us or complete the form below and we will arrange an initial conversation. We will listen to what you want to achieve, explain your options and outline the next steps, so you can move forward with clarity, confidence and control.

Frequently Asked Questions

In England and Wales there are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney. One covers property and financial affairs, and can include managing bank accounts, dealing with benefits, selling or maintaining property, and handling investments. The other covers health and welfare, and can include decisions about care, living arrangements, and medical treatment. We will help you decide what is appropriate, appoint the right attorneys and replacements, and include any preferences or instructions that matter to you.

If you lose mental capacity without an LPA in place, family members or friends do not automatically have the legal authority to make decisions for you. In some cases, they may need to apply to the Court of Protection for authority to deal with your finances or welfare, which can involve a more formal and potentially more costly process.

A general Power of Attorney usually allows someone to deal with financial matters on your behalf while you still have mental capacity. A Lasting Power of Attorney can continue to be used if you later lose mental capacity, provided it has been properly made and registered.

Once an LPA has been completed, it must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. Registration currently takes around 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes or objections, although the overall process can take longer depending on how quickly the documents are completed and signed.

Meet our Wills, Trust & Probate team

Amanda Brown

Senior Wills & Probate Executive Wills, Trusts and Probate

t: 01772 374790

m: 07551 801434