Yes there are two types of LPA, one is a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and the other is a Health and Welfare LPA. You can also arrange a separate LPA to cover your own Company or business.

Yes, married couples should consider setting up LPAs for each other. This is because marriage does not automatically give a spouse the right to make decisions for their partner.

An attorney can act and make decisions on your behalf, this can be withdrawing cash from the bank, paying bills, managing investments, dealing with pensions and benefits, speaking to medical professionals, consent to surgery, life sustaining treatment, choice of care and much more.

A lasting power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone to make decisions for you if you can’t. You might need an LPA if you lose mental capacity, have an illness, accident or stroke that leaves you unable to make your own decisions.

You should set up a Lasting Power of Attorney as soon as possible while you still have full mental capacity. If you do lose your mental capacity, you would not be able to then set up an LPA. Someone would then need to apply for a Court of Protection  on your behalf which is a lengthy and costly process.

You can choose your spouse, a family member, a friend or professional to be your attorney on an LPA. Often attorneys are your spouse and your adult children.