The Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) is a legal document which allows a person who is 21 years of age or older (‘donor’), to voluntarily appoint one or more persons (‘donee’), to act and make decisions on his behalf as his proxy decision maker if he should lose mental capacity one day. Donees can be appointed to cover two broad areas: personal welfare as well as property & affairs matters.

Benefits of an LPA

An LPA is an important pre-planning tool. It allows you to protect your interests by indicating your personal, considered choice of a proxy decision maker – someone you trust to be reliable, competent and capable – to act and make decisions on your behalf should you become vulnerable when you lose the mental capacity to make your own decisions one day.

By planning ahead, it also alleviates the stress and difficulties faced by your loved ones if you should lose mental capacity.

Source: Office of The Public Guardian