Power of Attorney

Ramnoth

My partner and I formed a Civil Partnership some years ago. He is not in great health and I have looked after him since a stroke in 2000. We each have bank accounts with the other as a joint signatory. Do I need to have a POW?  He is quite frail and I do worry about what problems I may face should the inevitable happen. What other things might I need to think about in the way of his benefits, private pensions or any investments?

[Deleted User]

A PoA would be an excellent idea - for both health and finance.

Always get them done before you need them. Most people tend to leave it too late.

Keep_pedalling

I would say putting LPAs in place is pretty much essential, not only for finance but for health as well.

sheramber

A LPA would be very sensible as it would mean of he became unable to make decisions or communicate you can act on his behalf.
You should also make one in case you become unable to manage your affairs. such as the result of an accident, being unconscious etc.
However, it ends on death so is no help afterwards.

You both need to make wills to save any problems or delays in the event of his death. Find out what his wishes are for a funeral etc.Difficult to talk about but should be done.
Also, does he  want a DNR order? My husband did not have a written one but he had expressed his wishes to me   so I knew wha he wanted.

 For a private pension make sure you are nominated as the  beneficiary so the money comes to you rather than go into his estate.
Make a list of his investments so you have the information to hand . 
Keep all documents together in a  folder.
It will make things easier when you need them.

Rambosmum

Deleted_User said:

A PoA would be an excellent idea - for both health and finance.

Always get them done before you need them. Most people tend to leave it too late.

This. 
Get it done. It won't come in to affect until he loses capacity, but that happen very quickly and without warning and at that point it is too late. 

Whilst you have a civil partnership, this doesn't give you rights to make decisions regarding his finances or health/ social care (neither does being married or "next of kin"). So for example, if he were to have a stroke, the decisions about where he was cared for once discharged from hospital would be out of your hands and made by professionals such as Social Workers.

tacpot12

Your partner should have a think about whether they want their family to have involvement in decisions about their health.