LPA Government or Solicitor

1Robe

Could you tell me what is the difference when filling in a LPA . It seems that it is cheaper doing it on the Gov Website. What would you recommend for and against.

thanks

lohr500

I've suggested to Admins that your post is moved to the "Deaths, funerals & probate" section as you will probably get more replies on that section.

Quite a few posts on there giving advice and experience on DIY LPA.

As my wife and I to sort out both Financial and Health LPA for ourselves, I have been reading the posts with interest. I have concluded it is easy enough to do without the cost of a solicitor so long as you take your time to complete the forms fully and carefully.

elsien

The forms themselves are obviously exactly the same, but using a solicitor is more expensive so what works for you depends on the complexity of the LPA. And for some people who aren’t fussed about the cost the reassurance of handing over responsibility to someone else.

I have done one for parent online because her finances are straightforwards and we spent time discussing what she wanted to put in the health one. She trusts me to know what she wants without putting in a lot of detail. It is getting the detail wrong that can cause an LPA to fail so the more you want to put in around instructions and preferences, the more advise able to get a solicitor to check it over.

A relative has three LPAs, one health and two finances because he has a business. So his two finance ones are a personal one and a business one. He felt that merited getting a solicitor to doublecheck because of the risks around the business.

mebu60

It is fairly straightforward to take the DIY route, just read and follow the instructions carefully.

You will also need a printer fully loaded with A4 paper and black ink/toner!

jsh99

I got a solicitor to do LPA for me for my both my mother and my brother - they were both reliant on me for help so I wanted to be sure it was done properly and by a third party so that I was not seen as taking advantage of them or coercing them into giving me LPA.

The solicitor also got someone to verify that they both had the capacity to make and sign the LPA - given that it was to act with immediate effect and it was just me with access to their money/property on their behalf.

middlewife

I've also DIY poa for both my late mother and my aunt, signed along with my sister so either of us can act. Just make sure everything is signed and dated in the correct order. There's comprehensive instructions on the government website.My well heeled uncle is quite happy to pay a solicitor to draft the paperwork, but my sister will still have to sign the paperwork before it's posted, takes around 4 months to complete.

kipsterno1

It is a relatively simple process and the, 'How to guide,' they provide takes you through it step by step.

Rusty190

I did my own on line via Gov. website.

As a childless, widowed orphan, for me, the key thing was communicating my future wishes and the "what ifs", "buts" and "maybes" to my 2 trusted attorneys - and if you don't trust the people to act in your best interest and to maintain confidentiality, don't choose them as your attorneys!

I order to make it manageable, I chose to add no "instructions" as such, to the POA documents and simply completed the compulsory bits of the POA, which, in all honesty, is simply just a document with names, addresses and phone numbers.

I discussed the ins and outs with my attorneys and sent them both an A4 printed sheet outlining my wishes in the event of failing health, mental and physical and a separate A4 sheet listing all bank accounts, savings etc and where to find passwords, legal paperwork, household information etc etc.

I update these A4 sheets annually and send them the revised copy.

They are both named as executors of my will also, so hopefully, already having all the financial information, or knowing where to find it, should mean will execution should be relatively straightforward.