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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The Digitalisation of Lasting Powers of Attorney

Family Law, Wills & Probate

The Digitalisation of LPAs

A couple of weeks ago, the government launched a 12-week consultation into the modernisation of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).

An LPA is a legal document that allows someone to make decisions about your finances, health, and care for you should you lose mental capacity. The consultation aims to examine the process of creating and registering an LPA, with a view to modernise this with a new digital system.

Modernising the process could offer a more simplified and user-friendly platform. It could also make creating an LPA more affordable and encourage more people to consider making one. However, simplifying the process also carries greater risks, including making mistakes in your application, abuse of power and fraud. You should always speak with an experienced lawyer who will be able to understand your circumstances and ensure that your LPA is well drafted, clearly setting out what you want and will be approved.

Digitalisation is happening worldwide and offers a fantastic opportunity to improve many legal services, but a fully digitalised platform could mean more older and vulnerable people being targeted for fraud, coerced or abused. The new system must offer appropriate safeguarding measures to ensure people are protected when making life changing decisions.

Rhianne McGhee, Solicitor at Battrick Clark Solicitors of 151 Whiteladies Road, Bristol and member of SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly), the membership organisation for specialist solicitors who support older and vulnerable people