3: How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney – DIY or use a solicitor
How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney is not as difficult as you might think.
Like making a will you can choose to make your own LPA or use the services of a legal professional.
Whatever your decision about how to make your Lasting Power of Attorney, you will need to make the same decisions (see Chapter X of this guide), but sometimes it can be helpful to have someone to guide you through the process.
The decision as to which route you go will depend on:
- how comfortable you are with reading online guidance and completing the LPA forms
- how financially and legally literate you are
- how complicated your assets and affairs are
- whether you want to define complex instructions and preferences
- whether you expect some disputes or challenge to your LPA from family or friends
If you are comfortable with the concept of completing it yourself, have straightforward affairs and wishes and don’t expect any disputes then you can save several hundred pounds taking the DIY route.
For more complicated situations then it may be worth getting a legal firm involved to help.
A benefit of using a legal adviser is that you will need to follow through. If you suffer from procrastination or get overwhelmed by the process then having an actual appointment with a real person who will not let you off the hook until you have provided all the information may well be worth the additional expense. And when you have committed to spending additional funds you will be more inclined to engage to ensure you get value for money.
Note that some online legal services do no more than ask the exact same questions as on the LPA website, so if you are paying for legal help then make sure you get value for money, for example that you can ask questions and clarify your understanding.
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