.....make it easier to get power of attorney

Every year, thousands of people become incapable of managing their finances because of illness or injury. Although nobody wants to imagine it happening to them, making preparations early could save family members at least the headache, if not the heartache. If a person becomes ‘mentally incapacitated’, a relative or friend would usually assume responsibility for paying the bills – but the process is rarely simple.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can smooth out some of the bumps by granting a trusted friend or relative the authority to make decisions on another’s behalf. However, even with this extra power, attorneys have often struggled to fulfil their bank duties because of a lack of awareness about what power of attorney is. New guidelines have been published to address this. There are two types of LPA – one for managing property and finances, the other for decisions about health.....Read more here