Lasting Power of Attorney documents – lost documents questions

Sinbad

A few years ago, I helped my mother compile both her health and welfare & property and financial affairs Power of Attorney documents. These were completed OK and returned to her. Unfortunately she has lost them.

I have contacted the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and requested official duplicates. They have told me they can provide an "Office Copy" for 35.00 each.

I would have thought that I would require a “Certified Copy”. Reading various pages on the OPG website, I found the following:

You can confirm that a copy of your lasting power of attorney (LPA) is genuine by ‘certifying’ it if you’re still able to make your own decisions.

You or your attorney can use a certified copy to register your LPA if you do not have the original form.

It goes on. Under the heading “How to certify a copy”

Write the following text on the bottom of every page of the copy:

“I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney.”

On the final page of the copy, you must also write:

“I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney.”

You need to sign and date every page.

 

So if I’m reading this correctly, I first obtain one of their office copies, I then get my mother to write “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney.” on every page, and then sign and date each page. And then finish with “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney.” on the last page.

Well, that’s a lot of writing for an 86 year old woman. Has anyone been down this road before?

And a thought: if I was to write the ““I certify …. lasting power of attorney.” bit myself and just get my mother to sign and date each sheet, thoughts on whether this would be acceptable?

 TIA

KxMx

The office copy should be treated as a certified copy already, because it has come directly from OPG.

If you want a certified copy, then copy the office copy and use something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certify-Corresponding-Original-Lasting-Attorney/dp/B07G7DCLGZ

Savvy_Sue

I believe someone made up a rubber stamp with those words, and used that. So I can't see why you writing that on each page wouldn't be acceptable. But it's an awful lot of writing for anyone, at any age ... 

elsien

Sinbad said:

A few years ago, I helped my mother compile both her health and welfare & property and financial affairs Power of Attorney documents. These were completed OK and returned to her. Unfortunately she has lost them.

I have contacted the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and requested official duplicates. They have told me they can provide an "Office Copy" for 35.00 each.

I would have thought that I would require a “Certified Copy”. Reading various pages on the OPG website, I found the following:

You can confirm that a copy of your lasting power of attorney (LPA) is genuine by ‘certifying’ it if you’re still able to make your own decisions.

You or your attorney can use a certified copy to register your LPA if you do not have the original form.

It goes on. Under the heading “How to certify a copy”

Write the following text on the bottom of every page of the copy:

“I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney.”

On the final page of the copy, you must also write:

“I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney.”

You need to sign and date every page.

 

So if I’m reading this correctly, I first obtain one of their office copies, I then get my mother to write “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney.” on every page, and then sign and date each page. And then finish with “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney.” on the last page.

Well, that’s a lot of writing for an 86 year old woman. Has anyone been down this road before?

And a thought: if I was to write the ““I certify …. lasting power of attorney.” bit myself and just get my mother to sign and date each sheet, thoughts on whether this would be acceptable?

 TIA

Parent has done this. She is 84. She just did a few pages at a time when she felt like it.

tacpot12

You can get the rubber stamps on Amazon: I Certify This is a True Copy/Corresponding Page of Original Lasting Power of Attorney [2 Pack] - for Solicitors, Financial Advisors Stock Rubber Stamp - Traxx 9015 … : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

Sell them on eBay once you are done. 

Sinbad

tacpot12 said:

You can get the rubber stamps on Amazon: I Certify This is a True Copy/Corresponding Page of Original Lasting Power of Attorney [2 Pack] - for Solicitors, Financial Advisors Stock Rubber Stamp - Traxx 9015 … : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

Sell them on eBay once you are done. 

Well, things you didn't know you didn't know!

Thanks for this link and for the other replies received.

Savvy_Sue

Sinbad said:

tacpot12 said:

You can get the rubber stamps on Amazon: I Certify This is a True Copy/Corresponding Page of Original Lasting Power of Attorney [2 Pack] - for Solicitors, Financial Advisors Stock Rubber Stamp - Traxx 9015 … : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

Sell them on eBay once you are done. 

Well, things you didn't know you didn't know!

Thanks for this link and for the other replies received.

And didn't know you might ever need!

TBagpuss

Also many solicitors will certify documents for a nominal fee. But yes, you can write it out and she can sign it, although I would expect a copy from the OPG to be a certified copy already

JGB1955

When certifying our own POAs I just typed up a (very) small font word document with the necessary words.  Cut it out and then photocopied each page of the original document with the 'cut-out' at the bottom.  Signed each page.  All done and dusted!  Both of our attorneys have those certified copies.  The originals are in our safe at home.

Flugelhorn

when my solicitor did some certified copies for me they put the copies through their printer and the wording was printed down the side of each page, the solicitor then just signed each page - very efficient