A power of attorney is a legal document that lets you choose someone you trust to make decisions for you if you can't. This person called your agent, can handle things like paying your bills, managing your property, or making medical choices for you. You can decide what specific powers your agent will have and when these powers will start. This document is important for ensuring your affairs are taken care of according to your wishes
Power Of Attorney For Health
A Power of Attorney for health and welfare is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint one or more people to make decisions about their health and wellbeing if they become unable to do so themselves here are the key aspects:
- Scope of decisions, a POA for health and welfare covers decisions about medical care and treatment, life sustaining treatment, where the person should live, daily routines.
- Making an POA, the person must be over 18 and have mental capacity to make the POA, the person must complete the forms provided by the office of public guardian, the POA must be registered with the office of public guardian before it can be used this can take several weeks.
- Choosing Attorneys, this should be trusted individuals who understands the person’s wishes and preferences, there can be more than one appointed attorney they can either work jointly or independently.
- The POA only comes into effect when the person lacks the mental capacity to make their own health and welfare decisions.
- Responsibilities of the attorney are to act in the best interest of the person and consider their past and present wishes.
- The person can revoke the POA at any time while they still have mental capacity.
- If the attorney becomes bankrupt the POA maybe affected, depending on the circumstances.
- Disputes and complaints, if there are concerns about an attorney is acting complaints can be made to the office of public guardian, the court of protection can make decisions or give guidance if there is a dispute about an POA or its use.
Power Of Attorney For Finance
A Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint one or more people to make decisions about their financial matters if they become unable to do so themselves here are the key aspects:
- Scope of decisions, a POA for financial affairs covers decisions about, managing bank and building society accounts, paying bills, collecting benefits or pension, selling or renting property, making investments.
- Making an POA, the person must be over 18 and have mental capacity to make the POA, the person must complete the forms provided by the office of public guardian, the POA must be registered with the office of public guardian before it can be used this can take several weeks.
- Choosing Attorneys, this should be trusted individuals who are capable of handling financial matters responsibly, there can be more than one appointed attorney they can either work jointly or independently.
- The POA only comes into effect when the person lacks the mental capacity to make their own health and welfare decisions.
- Responsibilities of the attorney are to act in the best interest of the person and consider their past and present wishes.
- The person can revoke the POA at any time while they still have mental capacity.If the attorney becomes bankrupt the POA maybe affected, depending on the circumstances.
- Disputes and complaints, if there are concerns about an attorney is acting complaints can be made to the office of public guardian, the court of protection can make decisions or give guidance if there is a dispute about an POA or its use.