Power of Attorney Solicitors in East Sussex
Hart Reade are experienced Power of Attorney Solicitors in East Sussex. We have offices in Eastbourne, Hailsham, Polegate and Meads. We can assist and advise you on all aspects of setting up your Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Many of our clients will get to a stage when they want to ensure that all their affairs are organised and in place. It will save time as well as possible heartbreak to organise relevant paperwork before potential issues arise.
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Two types of Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Property & Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney.This allows your Attorney to have authority to deal with your property and finances as you direct while you remain able to deal with these matters yourselfand to take over matters for you should you lose mental capacity to do so; and
- Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.This allows your Attorney to make decisions about your heath and care matters on your behalf when you no longer have the mental capacity to do so yourself. This can include, if you so wish, the giving or refusing consent to life sustaining treatment in certain circumstances.
Choosing who will act
A Lasting Power of Attorney is an important document and you should take great care in choosing your Attorneys. They should be trustworthy and have the appropriate skills to make the decisions that you are entrusting to them. You can appoint more than one Attorney and must decide whether they must all act together, or whether they can act separately. You can also appoint replacement Attorneys should an Attorney die or no longer be able to act. Special care needs to be taken when making these decisions and setting up the Lasting Powers of Attorney to ensure the documents work as you wish. There are restrictions on the amendments that can be made at a later date.
How do I put a Power of Attorney in place?
There are formalities to be followed when creating Lasting Powers of Attorney and they must be signed by you and your Attorney and witnessed in a particular order. In addition, someone else must certify that you understand the nature and scope of the Lasting Power of Attorney and that you have not been unduly pressured into making the power. Our team can advise you on matters to consider and additional powers or instructions to include. This often requires specialist wording, depending on your particular circumstances and wishes.
The Lasting Power of Attorney must be registered with the Office of Public Guardian before it can be used. A Property & Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney can be used (at your direction) before you lose the mental ability to deal with your own finances or if you lack the capacity to make financial decision yourself. A Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney can only be used if you lack mental capacity to make welfare or medical decisions for yourself.
Existing Enduring Powers of Attorney made before 1 October 2007 will continue to be valid. They will only apply to your property and affairs. If you wish someone to be able to make decisions regarding your health treatment, welfare matters and even being cared for at home or in residential care, you will need to make a Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.
Contact Us
Please telephone one of our offices to arrange an appointment if you would like to talk to one of our Lasting Power of Attorney Solicitors in East Sussex.
Eastbourne 01323 727321
Hailsham 01323 841481
Polegate 01323 487051
Meads 01323 407577
Alternatively, please complete the contact form below and someone will get back in touch with you.