A lasting power of attorney is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.
This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (ie you ‘lack mental capacity’).
You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA, but you do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen.
There are two types of Power of Attorney; these being “health and welfare” and “property and financial” affairs. You can choose to make one type or both. If you have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, then make sure you include details in your Book of Wishes.
How to make a lasting power of attorney