A Power of Attorney gives a person the legal authority to deal with your affairs on your behalf should you be unable to do so yourself in the future. This could be in relation to your property/finances or your personal welfare (or both).
Accident or illness can occur at any time in life, rendering you incapable of managing your own affairs. In such circumstances, you may need someone you trust to access your bank account, pay your bills or even consent to medical treatment on your behalf. Granting a Power of Attorney now will ease the burden on everyone involved in the event of any future misfortune occurring.
In many ways, a Power of Attorney is like an insurance policy. One hopes it will never be needed but if it is, having one in place will make your life, and the lives of your family and loved ones much easier. If you chose not to grant Power of Attorney your family will have to apply to the court for a Guardianship order in the event of your incapacity. This is a much more expensive, complex and cumbersome process.
By effective forward planning, a Power of Attorney can allow your loved ones to focus on what is important in relation to your affairs rather than having to struggle to have their voice heard.
Powers of Attorney are regulated and registered by the Office of Public Guardian (Scotland). If you are considering granting a Power of Attorney, we would recommend that you read the Office of the Public Guardian’s codes of practice which can be accessed here: www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk
Whether you are elderly, or simply wish to put in place provisions to manage your affairs in the future, we can assist you in deciding whether a Power of Attorney is the right option for you. We can also assist you in preparing a Power of Attorney to meet your individual requirements. In some cases, legal aid may be available to cover the costs of this.
Please contact us for a free initial telephone consultation to see how we can assist.
