Power of Attorney Question

patanne

If it is for DWP then it is (or was 3 years ago) possible to make an appointment at a Job Centre & they will do it free. I also got another copy free from the solicitors dealing with the house sale, not something I ever expected them to do. I believe their normal charge was £57 so if it can be done free it helps.

It was sent to DWP 3 times for different departments! I was really worried about losing the original so would have paid for copies. People can be really nice & helpful

Biggles

cavyslave wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if each page of the LPA on a certified copy needs to be signed and stamped by a solicitor, or just the first page?

If you need a copy for the bank, just ask them to take a copy (but don't let them take the original out of your sight). Because they have seen the original they can use their own copy for their own internal purposes.

If you think you will need other copies (and you might well do), you can take the opportunity to ask them to make another couple of copies and certify them. They have a stamp that they use and they must stamp and sign each page; they're quite used to doing this and normally do it free of charge for customers.

EssexExile

Be careful, according to the .gov website it can only be certified by the donor, a solicitor or a notary.

xylophone

Relative took his to the solicitor who drew up the LPA - £5 a copy and every page had to be stamped and marked "I certify that this is a true copy of the corresponding page of the original" with the final page stamped and marked "I certify that this is a true and complete copy of the original document".

patanne

That sounds about the right price as there are 11 or 12 pages depending on the POA. The one from 4 years ago had 11 pages for one POA only & 12 for a back up if anything happens to POA 1. The Job Centre one was fully signed and was accepted with no problems by DWP.

Biggles

EssexExile wrote: »

Be careful, according to the .gov website it can only be certified by the donor, a solicitor or a notary.

The gov.uk website is very basic and limited in its detail in most subject areas.

AFAICS even the latest legislation (2005 Act) refers back to the 1971 Act, which says:-

Photocopies
You can accept a photocopy of any PoA document provided it includes a declaration that it is a true and complete copy of the original signed by:
the customer or
a solicitor or
a stockbroker.

That wording is, in fact, in a document buried somewhere on the gov.uk site (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226771/Part-04_Attorney.pdf), para 4058.

Santander (and nearly all the major banks) are stockbrokers. I used certified copies of my mother's PoA, certified by my bank, for various purposes on many occasions without it ever being questioned.

Of course, if the OP is only asking about a copy for this one purpose, then her bank will make their own copy there and then; she just has to make sure they give her the original back.

Gers

Biggles wrote: »

The gov.uk website is very basic and limited in its detail in most subject areas.

AFAICS even the latest legislation (2005 Act) refers back to the 1971 Act, which says:-

Photocopies
You can accept a photocopy of any PoA document provided it includes a declaration that it is a true and complete copy of the original signed by:
the customer or
a solicitor or
a stockbroker.

That wording is, in fact, in a document buried somewhere on the gov.uk site (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226771/Part-04_Attorney.pdf), para 4058.

Santander (and nearly all the major banks) are stockbrokers. I used certified copies of my mother's PoA, certified by my bank, for various purposes on many occasions without it ever being questioned.

Of course, if the OP is only asking about a copy for this one purpose, then her bank will make their own copy there and then; she just has to make sure they give her the original back.

Interesting info, especially about the bank being stockbroker.

BTW - is 'the customer' the attorney or the donor?

Biggles

Gers wrote: »

Interesting info, especially about the bank being stockbroker.

The customer service person in my local branch just reached for the stamp without even asking any questions, it seemed to be completely routine (the 'stamp' even has the required wording on it, 'I certify that this is a true copy, etc etc').

BTW - is 'the customer' the attorney or the donor?

That's the donor - as long as s/he is sound of mind, the donor can certify copies, something I didn't previously realise, though not sure it would have helped in my case. So if you get an LPA purely to help during a person's physical disability (or even absence from the country for a prolonged spell), they are able to certify photocopies.

Gers

Biggles wrote: »

That's the donor - as long as s/he is sound of mind, the donor can certify copies, something I didn't previously realise, though not sure it would have helped in my case. So if you get an LPA purely to help during a person's physical disability (or even absence from the country for a prolonged spell), they are able to certify photocopies.

Really helpful - thanks Biggles. That should save some money next time I need a certified copy of the POA I hold for my mother. She's not lost any marbles yet, just a load of hearing.

Cheers

EssexExile

Yes, my Dad certified his own, 3 copies, 13 pages each. It took a while.