Who needs a power of attorney?
A power of attorney is an important legal document for anyone aged 18 and over can have as long as they have full mental capacity. If you lose capacity without a POA, a court may appoint someone you don’t know to manage your affairs.
Can anyone be an attorney?
Yes as long as they are aged 18 or over and able to understand the responsibility which is required. Your attorney should always be someone you trust, ie a family member or friend.
When should I make a POA?
As soon as possible! It does not have to be used straight away but no one knows what the future holds and it is always better to be protected to cover any eventuality.
How long does it take?
It can take up to 8-10 weeks to register a POA if there are no mistakes made – in 2023/24 there were 50,918 applications rejected due to mistakes such as incorrect spellings, signatures being signed in the incorrect order. If your application is rejected the processing time will be significantly longer which could impact the care of your loved one.