There is often some confusion about the differences between an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Both EPAs and LPAs are documents that allow you to appoint a person to act on your behalf (as an attorney) and make decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions for yourself because you lack the mental capacity.

The way to create a Power of Attorney changed some years ago. An Enduring Power of Attorney is the old form and a Lasting Power of Attorney is the new form. It is no longer possible to create Enduring Powers of Attorney, but existing ones can still be used and registered. If you do not have a Power of Attorney in place then you will now need to create a Lasting Power of Attorney.

What should you do if you have already made an Enduring Power of Attorney?

An EPA made before 1st October 2007 can still be used and registered. You can continue to rely on your EPA if you created it before the rules changed.

Why Create Lasting Powers of Attorney if you already have an Enduring Power of Attorney?

However, you may wish to consider cancelling your Enduring Power of Attorney and creating new Lasting Power of Attorneys. Lasting Powers of Attorney are more comprehensive and they have more safe-guarding procedures than an Enduring Power of Attorney. They allow you to include specific instructions and preferences about how you would like your attorneys to make decisions for you if you ever lose mental capacity. You can also choose different people to act as your attorney for health and welfare matters, and for your property and financial affairs.

What can an Attorney do under an EPA and an LPA?

Another notable difference is that an Enduring Power of Attorney is limited to dealing with your financial affairs. Your attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney would not be able to make decisions about your health and welfare if you ever lost capacity.

There are two different types of Lasting Powers of Attorney; one that allows your attorney to make decisions in about property and financial affairs, and one that allows your attorney to make decisions about your health and welfare.

People often think that the next of kin has the right to make decisions about your health and welfare if you are incapable of much such decisions for yourself. A next of kin does not have the same legal authority as an attorney, which is why it is really important to consider creating a Lasting Power of Attorney for your Health and Welfare. This will allow your family and/or friends to make decisions about the treatment you receive rather than the doctors, nurses, carers and social workers making decisions that might be inconsistent with what you would want to happen.

What should you do if you have been appointed to act as someone’s attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney?

If you have been appointed to act as someone’s attorney under an EPA created before 1st October 2007 then your appointment is valid.

The main difference between EPAs and LPAs is that an LPA must be registered before it can be used whereas an EPA can be used by the attorney before it is registered. An attorney must register the EPA when they believe that the person they are acting on behalf of no longer has the mental capacity to manage their own financial affairs.

If you require any assistance registering an existing Enduring Power of Attorney or to discuss making Lasting Powers of Attorney please contact our Private Client Department on 0161 832 3304.

Testimonials

Read what our clients have to say...

View All

Excellent experience start to finish – always very responsive to any queries and the turnaround on the property I was buying was very quick, even in the busy time leading up to stamp duty deadline. Jenny was always very helpful and went above and beyond to close on a short timescale.

Ben Armitage

“Very approachable, practical solutions to problems, but most of all very responsive which I personally think is very important because if you need help, you need it quickly, or at least to know someone is looking at it for you”.

Joanne Rowe, Finance Director, Greater Manchester Chamber

“Always able to contact, very approachable, friendly and professional”

Nives Feely, JAM Recruitment

“I believe I have been able to establish a professional working relationship with everyone I have come into contact. Importantly, I sense the relationships which have been established give me the confidence that I can make contact with Davis Blank Furniss at any time and on any matter. I would also like to express my thanks to the very impressive “gatekeepers” who work in reception, not only for making me very welcome, but also for their professionalism”

Bill Pryke, CEO, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors

“Thank you for your efficient and friendly help throughout this process. We have had it easy but your approach has been part of that”.

Robert Amsbury (Conveyancing Client)

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you personally for the ongoing support and assistance the firm has offered to our parents over the years. I hope also that we may be able to call on you if necessary in the future.”

Valerie Fisher (Probate Client)

“Jo always provides great service, understands our needs and delivers on her promises. Our needs are relatively simple but the complexity arises out of the volume of work and short time frames, Jo always delivers.”

Peter Fernandez, Corporate Director at Royal Bank of Scotland

“A big thank you to all who dealt with my wife’s claim… We would not hesitate to recommend Davis Blank Furniss to anyone that may be in a situation like we have been…”

Anon (Personal Injury client)

“Before putting my case in Kirsty (Morbey)’s capable hands I’ve met a couple of other solicitors. None of them listen to me as intently as Kirsty and showed me as much empathy and understanding as she did. Simultaneously she was able to look at my case from legal perspective, explain all the options and follow each of our meetings with written summary of the discussed matters (in timely manner). Her advice was invaluable and led me to successfully ending the case matter (hopeful for good). I’m forever grateful for he work and would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for reliable, knowledgeable and committed solicitor”.

Anon (Family client)
5 star service

Our Manchester office is rated 5 stars on Google