It is essential for everyone, at any age, to consider what will happen if at some point in your life you are unable to manage your own affairs, whether through an accident or an illness.

If this happens, you will need to rely heavily on someone else, be it a friend, family member or professional, and they need to be formally appointed to act on your behalf. This can be achieved by completing a Lasting Power of Attorney ("LPA") which legally appoints someone you trust to make decisions for you. We call this person an Attorney.

There are two types of LPA:

LPA – Financial Decisions

This enables your Attorneys to make decisions about your financial affairs; for example how to manage your bank accounts, other investments and any property you own.

LPA – Health and Care Decisions

This enables your Attorneys to make decisions about your personal welfare, which could mean making a decision about which care home you will reside in, or whether you consent to life sustaining treatment (similar to a Living Will or Advance Directive).

Victoria advises extensively on LPAs; drafting, preparing and advising on their usage, and also acts as an Attorney under an LPA for Financial Decisions for clients who need to appoint a professional Attorney. She can also advise on the usage of Enduring Powers of Attorney ('EPAs'), or on drafting Advance Statements, Living Wills or Advance Directives.