LPA Applications
Year after year the total number of Lasting Power of Attorney applications continue to rise. Nearly 240,000 applications were received by the Office of the Public Guardian in the first quarter of this year alone.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted how beneficial having an LPA really is and, with fears of a ‘second wave’ hitting the UK, many are now seeking to appoint Attorneys to handle their affairs, if they are unable to do so themselves.
Last month we saw the Office of the Public Guardian launch their new online tool to make it quicker and easier for Attorneys to use an LPA and support their loved ones. Find out more about the new online tool here.
The new online tool:
Once a Lasting Power of Attorney is registered, Attorneys and Donors (the person who the LPA relates to) will be sent an activation key. An online account can then be created to allow organisations to view an online summary of the LPA, via an online portal. This will confirm the Attorney’s status and allow them to begin to take action on behalf of the Donor.
Those who have LPAs registered from 17 July 2020 will be able to use this online service.
The paper-based process can take weeks and become costly, due to organisations requesting certified copies of the LPAs and other documents to be sent via post. The speed in which decisions can be made will be considerably quicker as a result of the new virtual service.
Donors can rest assured that the existing legal checks, in respect of the powers the Attorneys hold, will remain firmly in place and they are still protected by the OPG from any abuse of an LPA.
If you are considering putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place or have any queries in respect of the above, please contact Emma Blakesley on 01245 221699.
Please note that we are offering FREE garden visits for wills, Lasting Power of Attorney and Probate matters throughout August, September and October to the Danbury community. See our previous article about this here
