More and more people in Kent and the surrounding area are realising how important it is to make a Will, but only 100,000 people in the UK have so far made a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). A Will protects your wishes and looks after your loved ones when you die. But what happens to your wishes, your property and your loved ones if you lose mental capacity due to illness or accident?
Lasting Power of Attorney is currently the only way to protect yourself and others in this situation, and is a document which Government’s Ministry of Justice highly recommends we all have. We agree! With life expectancy in the UK on the rise, an LPA is a guaranteed way to protect your wishes and rights during your lifetime.
Let’s look at what can happen should you lose your mental capacity (the ability to make decisions and look after your own affairs):
- the Court of Protection can make decisions for you regarding your personal welfare, your property and your healthcare
- your loved ones and carers can be overruled and pushed out, even if they know what your wishes are
- paperwork and red-tape can cause delays, heartache and hassle
- your condition can worsen and your carers will feel the burden whilst the Court of Protection makes decisions for you in its own time
The Court of Protection has received 1500 complaints in the two years since it was set up, yet it is the Court of Protection which will make important decisions for you should you suffer head injury or dementia.
Lasting Power of Attorney is a relatively cheap and very easy way to bypass the Court of Protection altogether. Make one whilst you are fit and able: it gives you (and those around you) true peace of mind. An LPA allows you to choose someone you trust to make decisions for you in the future, should the need arise. Protect the future of your loved ones and prevent yourself from being left open to manipulation.
Estate Legacy Services offer a LPA at a fixed cost, and they will visit you in your own home in Kent and the surrounding areas.
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