Many people confuse a Lasting Power of Attorney with a will – or assume that because they have a will they automatically have some kind of power of attorney.
To answer the question why you need a power of attorney if you have a will, here’s a very simple explanation:
A power of attorney is the opposite of a will – they couldn’t be more different
The power of attorney we’re talking about here is called a Lasting Power of Attorney.
A will protects your beneficiaries’ interests after you’ve died, but a Lasting Power of Attorney protects your own interests while you’re still alive – up to the point where you die. The moment you die, the power of attorney ceases and your will becomes relevant instead. There’s no overlap.
In essence, by setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney, you give someone you trust the authority to make decisions and to act on your behalf and in your best interests – while you’re still living and breathing.
Once you reach a point in time where you need someone to act for you, it’s often too late to get a Lasting Power of Attorney set up. It’s like insurance in that respect. Once it is all set up though, you can forget about it and hope it never has to be used.
One of the most important pieces of advice for anyone with a relative who may at some point need care is to encourage your relative to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney – without delay.
Indeed a power of attorney is vital for anyone – regardless of age – who has money and assets to protect and/or who wants someone to act in their best interest in terms of healthcare choices should they be unable to make decisions for themselves.
There are two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney:
- Property & Financial Affairs
- Heath & Welfare
You’ll find lots of information on the internet about these and how they work.
If you’re still asking yourself why you need a power of attorney, consider the prospect of a complete stranger making decisions about your money, your house or your health and wellbeing – including where you live – while your family is powerless to do anything to protect you. That’s an example of the kind of scenario a Lasting Power of Attorney helps prevent.
In that sense, a power of attorney could conceivably be considered more important than a will – depending on your point of view – because it safeguards your interests while you’re still alive. It’s best to get both things sorted though – a will and a Lasting Power of Attorney. It’s also a good idea to have both types: Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare.
Choose one or more people you trust completely to act in your best interests
Remember, you want this person/these people to fight for you should you no longer be able to act for yourself or make decisions for yourself while you’re still alive. These are called your attorneys. You are called the donor – because you’re giving them power to act.
If you do wait until you are no longer mentally able to act for yourself, the Court of Protection may not allow a power of attorney to be set up any more. Instead, your family will have to apply to the Court for a Deputyship order. It means that your family is the likely to have to account for their every action and expense on your behalf – including where joint bank accounts are concerned. It can be very difficult – and having to apply for a Deputyship can also be a long process and expensive, and it would be at a time when your family is already deeply distressed about what may have happened to you.
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney now (known as ‘making’ a power of attorney) is straightforward and it gives reassurance that if you do become incapacitated for whatever reason, whoever you choose as your attorney(s) can act immediately on your behalf and in your best interests.
Here at Care To Be Different we see many cases where someone has become unable to act for themselves, but there is no power of attorney. It means the family’s hands are tied are and they are unable to act on their relative’s behalf in any assessment or appeal process for care funding, for example. Many families have good reason to feel that the care authorities are not on their side, and the feeling powerlessness while the authorities make decisions on your relative’s behalf is not something to relish.
Family members with power of attorney, on the other hand, have been able to fight their relative’s corner and protect their interests when dealing with the NHS and the local authority. Without such a document they may not even have been able to access their relative’s bank account on their relative’ behalf to pay a care home or care provider – or to influence the kind of care that will be provided – or even where it will be provided.
If two spouses or partners are making a power of attorney, they each need to do their own. It can be tempting for partners or spouses to choose the other partner or spouse their attorney. However, it’s important to consider who would be able to act if both spouses/partners are incapacitated at the same time. For this reason, many people also name an additional person or people, such an a son or daughter.
Also, spouses should not assume that one spouse can necessarily act for the other just because they’re married. The Court may not see it that way. A spouse often needs legal authority to act for the other – through a power of attorney.
You can ask a solicitor to help you with all this, and you can also do it yourself online. It depends on your preference. But whatever you choose, be sure to read up as much as you can for yourself.
Read more here about powers of attorney – plus you’ll find a link to the Gov.uk page about Lasting Powers of Attorney.
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Nice guide and tips that everyone can refer through it.
Weird, just thought yes this makes sense….
If I nominate 3 or more people as attorneys do they have equal rights ?
Yes unless you state otherwise
Sorry I sent my answer by mistake. My answer was yes unless you state otherwise. Most times they will be listed as 1, 2, 3. The first person listed will be in charge. The second person takes over responsibility if the first person dies, is not interested in the responsibility or for any reason he can’t act on his responsibilities. Then the second person takes over.
The 2 person takes over the first persons responsibilities. Until he no longer can do this. Then the third person takes over. After that I believe the state will appoint someone.
Wow, this is worth reading. Thank you for sharing this article. It is very informative, great work.
Is it compulsory to have a power or attorney
No, it isn’t compulsory. It may prove helpful but not if you are being pressurised by someone to sign one. Only have people you trust completely as your attornies.
WE have a potentially upcoming problem. My elder sister was hospitalised following a fall at her home . She was then moved into a care home for an initial period of one month tr help her recovery before going home. This was in early March 2020 but was subsequently ‘caught’ in the CV 19 situation and the forthcoming ‘lockdown’ regulations. We have not been able to get in the home to visit with her. Adult Social Services have agreed that my sister should be allowed to go home on the 23rd June with an associated care plan. But have added that this depends on her being ‘assessed’ before hand to see if she is okay to go home. Before she was sent to the care home she was previously assessed in hospital by ASS who concluded that she was indeed fit enough to go home with the associated care plan.
Should we be wary of the ASS attempting to prevent our sister going home?
Can a nursing home confiscate bank accounts and homes if another person is listed jointly on an account or the property is in another person name?
Why would a solicitor need power of attorney if my father has passed and he has a will. I have been told it is due to the land registration. My father own the house , in his will he has stated that the house etc is to split equally between myself and my 2 sisters
We waited for over ten months for the CCG to assess my late mother for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which was eventually done retrospectively 11 days after she passed away in Jan of this year without the CCG informing the family. I appealed that and another Decision Support Tool was done in April and we were still not happy with the outcome and I want to take it to appeal. However, because mum has passed away the POA has ceased and the CCG are demanding a copy of mum’s will or grant of probate before they will accept any communication from me, or allow this to go to appeal – seems like they have me over a barrel! Is this correct – would appreciate any advice – Many thanks.
I read in one of your articles about care fees; you explain if the property is part-owned by another party then the property cannot be included in any assessment for care fees. Does this apply to Wales as well a England?
Hi Lyndon – the information we publish here at Care To Be Different relates to England only. You’d need to check out the specific rules in Wales to see if they differ.
The information on this website covers the funding guidelines in England. For Scotland, you’d need to ask your local Health Board for a copy of the Continuing Healthcare eligibility criteria and guidelines for Scotland. Alternatively, you could try Age Scotland: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/
Can you tell me if the same rules in England for continuing healthcare apply in Scotland, and if not point me in the direction of the appropriate bodies.