Property & Financial Affairs
Allows your chosen attorney(s) to deal with financial matters covered by the LPA. This can include managing bank accounts, paying bills, dealing with investments and pensions, and handling property matters.
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Lasting Powers of Attorney in Dorset & Surrounding Areas
Protect the People You Love. Make Sure the Right People Can Help You When It Matters Most.
We'll Come to You - In the Comfort of Your Own Home
A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to choose people you trust to make certain decisions for you if you need help in the future or can no longer make those decisions yourself.
Free home visits
In the comfort of your own home
Fixed fees
Explained before you proceed
Plain-English advice
Clear guidance, no jargon
Personal local service
Personal Advice. Professional Team Support.
Why an LPA Matters
Who Would Make Decisions for You If You Couldn't?
Many people assume that a husband, wife, partner or adult child would automatically be able to deal with everything for them if they became unable to manage their own affairs. That should not be relied upon.
A Lasting Power of Attorney lets you choose, in advance, the people you trust to act as your attorneys and gives them legal authority to make the decisions covered by the LPA.
Putting LPAs in place while you are able to make your own decisions can provide reassurance for both you and your family and may avoid greater difficulty if help is needed later.
The best time to put an LPA in place is before it is needed.
UNDERSTANDING LPAS
The Two Types of Lasting Power of Attorney
There are two different types of LPA. Many clients choose to put both in place because they cover different areas of their life.
Health & Welfare
Allows your chosen attorney(s) to make health and welfare decisions covered by the LPA when you are unable to make those decisions yourself. This can include matters concerning care, living arrangements and medical treatment.
What Could an Attorney Help With?
The precise authority depends on the type of LPA, the choices made in the document and the circumstances in which it is being used.
A Will helps you…
- Managing bank and building society accounts
- Paying household bills and other expenses
- Dealing with pensions, investments and financial matters
- Buying, selling or managing property where authorised
- Arranging appropriate care and support
- Decisions about where you live
- Health and day-to-day welfare decisions
- Certain medical treatment decisions, subject to the terms of the LPA
Our core services
Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts with Clear, Expert Guidance
Wills
Clearly record your wishes, appoint people you trust as Executors and decide who you would like to benefit from your estate.
Living Trusts
A Living Trust is established during your lifetime and may provide greater control over how certain assets are held and managed. Whether it is appropriate will depend upon your individual circumstances.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Appoint people you trust to make important financial, property, health or welfare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself.
- Marriage or divorce
- A new relationship
- The birth of children or grandchildren
- Buying, selling or significantly changing your property
- A substantial change in your financial circumstances
- The death of an Executor or beneficiary
- Changes within your family
- Concerns about a beneficiary’s divorce, bankruptcy or financial circumstances
- A change in who you would like to inherit
Reviewing an Existing Will
Already Have a Will? It May Still Be Worth Reviewing
Having a Will is important—but having a Will that still reflects your current circumstances is equally important.
Life rarely stands still. Families change, relationships change, property values change, and what you wanted ten or fifteen years ago may be very different from what you want today.
DON’T WAIT FOR A CRISIS
An LPA Must Be Planned in Advance
An LPA is a forward-planning document. It needs to be made while the person creating it is able to understand and make the relevant decision to put the arrangement in place.
If someone loses the ability to make the relevant decisions before an LPA has been made, their family cannot simply create one for them afterwards. A different legal process may then be required to obtain authority to deal with their affairs.
Planning ahead gives you the opportunity to choose who you trust rather than leaving your family to deal with the problem during a crisis.
CHOOSING YOUR ATTORNEYS
Choose People You Know and Trust
Your attorneys may one day be making important decisions on your behalf, so choosing the right people is an important part of the process.
During your appointment we can discuss the practical points you should consider, including who you wish to appoint, whether you want more than one attorney, how they should act and whether replacement attorneys should be included.
The aim is to create arrangements that are practical for your circumstances and reflect the people you trust to help you.
WILL WRITING WITHOUT THE FORMAL OFFICE APPOINTMENT
Clear Advice Without the Formal Office Appointment
“I’ll visit you in the comfort of your own home, explain the two types of
Lasting Power of Attorney in plain English and help you understand the choices
that need to be made before your documents are prepared.””
From your first inquiry to the completion of your documents, Oakwood Wills is here to support you every step of the way with professional, friendly advice you can trust.
A SIMPLE, SUPPORTIVE PROCESS
How Your LPA Works
Clear guidance at every stage, from your first conversation through to registration with the Office of the Public Guardian.
Arrange Your Free Home Review
Contact Oakwood Wills and arrange a convenient home appointment.
We Discuss Your Circumstances
We explain the two types of LPA, discuss the people you wish to appoint and the choices available to you.
Your LPAs Are Prepared
Your documents are prepared using the instructions agreed with you.
Signing & Certification
We explain the signing requirements and the role of the certificate provider and attorneys.
Registration
The LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. We explain the registration process and the applicable official fees.
ARRANGE YOUR FREE HOME REVIEW
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Or call us today on
07832 331594
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR WIDER ESTATE PLANNING
LPAs Protect You During Your Lifetime
A Will deals primarily with what happens to your estate after your death. A Lasting Power of Attorney is different: it is designed to help ensure that trusted people can make authorised decisions for you during your lifetime if the need arises.
For many families, Wills and LPAs therefore form complementary parts of sensible estate planning. Where appropriate, your Home Protection Review can also consider whether your existing Will and wider arrangements still reflect your wishes.
PLANNING AHEAD
LPAs Are One Part of Planning Ahead
A Lasting Power of Attorney helps protect your interests during your lifetime. Your Will deals with what happens to your estate after your death, while appropriate Trust planning may provide additional protection for your home and family wealth. We can consider all three as part of your FREE Home Protection Review.
What Our Clients Say
From your first inquiry to the completion of your documents, Oakwood Wills is here to support you every step of the way with professional, friendly advice you can trust.
Margaret H
Clear, concise, and compassionate. Oakwood Wills made everything simple.
James T
Excellent experience from start to finish. Highly recommend to anyone needing a will.
Sheila D
They explained everything in plain English and took away all the stress.
Alan R
Very knowledgeable and efficient. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Barbara S
The whole process was handled with care and respect. Thank you!
Peter L
Affordable, straightforward, and trustworthy. A first-class service.
Brenda W
I finally feel secure about the future. Oakwood Wills made that possible.
Frank E
Lasting Powers of Attorney
LPA Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers to common questions. If you would prefer to talk things through, call us on 07832 331594.
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more people, known as attorneys, to make decisions for you within the authority given by the LPA.
Do I need both types of LPA?
The two LPAs cover different matters. A Property & Financial Affairs LPA deals with financial and property decisions, while a Health & Welfare LPA deals with health, care and welfare decisions. Many people choose to make both so that both areas are covered.
Can my husband, wife or children automatically act for me?
You should not assume that a spouse, partner or adult child automatically has legal authority to manage all of your finances or make health and welfare decisions on your behalf. An LPA provides formal legal authority to the attorneys you choose, within its terms.
When can a Property & Financial Affairs LPA be used?
Once it has been registered, a Property & Financial Affairs LPA may be capable of being used while you still have mental capacity if you have authorised this and want your attorneys to help. It can also continue to be used if you later lose capacity, subject to the terms of the LPA.
When can a Health & Welfare LPA be used?
A Health & Welfare LPA is used for decisions covered by it when you are unable to make the relevant decision yourself. It can cover matters such as care, living arrangements and certain medical decisions.
Can I change or cancel an LPA?
In appropriate circumstances, an LPA can be revoked by the donor while they have the required mental capacity. If your circumstances or chosen attorneys change, it is important to take advice on the correct way to update your arrangements.
What happens if I lose capacity without an LPA?
If you lose the ability to make the relevant decisions and there is no valid LPA giving someone authority to act, your family may need to consider a different legal process to obtain authority. This can be more involved than putting suitable LPAs in place in advance.
How much does it cost to arrange LPAs with Oakwood Wills?
Oakwood Wills provides clear pricing and will explain both our professional fee and any applicable Office of the Public Guardian registration fees before you proceed.
Planning Ahead Starts with a Conversation
Arrange Your FREE Home Protection Review
We'll Come to You – In the Comfort of Your Own Home
Oakwood Wills
29 Mereside, Portland, Dorset DT5 1PY
[email protected]
A truly professional and friendly service. I feel peace of mind knowing my affairs are in order.