CORONAVIRUS UPDATE APRIL 2021

A message to our clients:

With the recent move to allow shops and offices to fully re-open, we will continue to review our policy on clients attending our offices. Currently, we are not inviting clients into the office but we are able to briefly meet with clients by appointment at the door of the office. Please note that face coverings are still required indoors until further notice. We remain committed to following the Government guidelines as rules continue to change in line with the easing of lockdown.

We continue to operate our business as usual across all the services that we offer our clients, both current and prospective.

We continue to offer teleconference-based or telephone consultations.. We are aware that not everyone has been offered full vaccination yet and understand that some people may feel safer continuing with socially distanced communications.

Our family and wills / probate solicitors continue to offer initial advice remotely by video conferencing and by telephone for up to one hour (as advertised on this website). Please call us if you would like to speak to one of our experts.

If you have a case in court, please telephone us so we can discuss representation.

We appreciate your patience, support and understanding over the past year since the restrictions related to the pandemic began. We hope you continue to stay safe, and wish you a brighter 2021!

Talk to a solicitor today 0117 973 1391
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Why a Lasting Power of Attorney matters

Wills & Probate

The Law Society have recently issued guidance to the general public ‘Because of the significant influence a power of attorney places over your affairs, it is important to get legal advice from a solicitor on whether it is right for your circumstance’.

Our Wills, Probate and LPA expert Alison Griffiths has some advice for people who are considering having an LPA drawn up.

If you’re faced with the prospect of a debilitating or degenerative illness or are concerned about being able to manage your affairs as you get older, then a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is probably something that you should consider as this legal document nominates a trusted relative or friend or your solicitor to look after your affairs if you lose the capacity to make those decisions.

There are actually two types of LPA’s to consider – one for finance and property and another for health and welfare with these two separate legal procedures being independent of one another.  A financial and property LPA nominates a person/s to manage day-to-day financial and asset decisions and is usually drawn up when an elderly relative goes to live in a residential or nursing home and can be revoked at any time whilst the person retains capacity to make decisions.  The health and welfare document nominates a person/s to make decisions over day-to-day healthcare and medical treatments and any social care contacts when mental capacity is lost.

There are many advantages of having an LPA:

  • You choose a person/s to act on your behalf if you become mentally or physically incapable of managing your affairs
  • The Court of Protection has very little involvement saving time and court fees.
  • Your legal representative doesn’t have to prepare annual accounts which would be another expense on your estate.
  • You can let someone else look after your affairs – this is usual when people go into a residential or nursing home.
  • An LPA can give you peace of mind knowing that if you were to become mentally incapable of looking after your affairs, the LPA can provide you with protection and your nominated representative can handle your affairs on your behalf.
  • You can draw up an LPA if you are over 18 and have full capacity.
  • An LPA can be revoked at any time whilst you have capacity.

Alison’s expertise in drawing up LPA’s can provide you with peace of mind.  Her personable and empathetic approach to understanding the complexities that sometimes surround the daunting prospect of losing the ability to make decisions when faced with a degenerative illness, make the whole process easier to work through.  If you’re considering having an LPA drawn up, then give Alison an initial call on 0117 973 1391 to discuss your requirements.