Page 36 - Engage Winter 2024
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SERVICES
Peace of mind by planning ahead
Maureen can help
If you are helping your elderly parents with their finances, or making telephone calls to the hospital on their behalf, you may have been asked whether you have Lasting Power of Attorney for them. People are increasingly being advised to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for themselves in order to make life easier for them and their families in the future.
No one has the right to take control of your finances or your care without your authority to do so. But there may come a time when you are no longer able to make your own decisions. Perhaps you have developed dementia, or you may have been involved in an accident and been in hospital, unable to manage. A Lasting Power of Attorney is a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself
– or if you do not wish to. It’s a bit like taking out travel insurance if you go abroad. You hope never to use it, but if the worst happens, and you need to be airlifted back
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to the UK, the insurance will save you a lot of money and worry.
There are several ways to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney. You can order the forms and an information pack from the Office
of the Public Guardian, or download them or fill them in online. It’s important to fill in the paperwork correctly because mistakes can mean your LPA is rejected, lead to delays and you could need to pay a fee to re-apply.
Age UK Northamptonshire works with Maureen Evans of Evans Paralegal to provide a professional service. Maureen can prepare and register a Lasting Power of Attorney
for property and financial affairs for you or a relative. Maureen can also arrange this for health and welfare, along with helping you draw up a Will.
No one has the right to take control of your finances or your care without your authority to do so.
Call Roger Harris on 01604 631030 to find out more.