What happens if you lose the ability to manage your own affairs?
A loss of “capacity” can affect any of us, at any age, following an illness, accident or simply due to old age. Do you know what to do if one of your relatives loses “capacity”? Who is responsible for paying the bills? Who decides whether your money might be used for extra care?
Our specialist team are on hand to assist with these difficult questions.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Ideally, clients will prepare for this scenario by signing a Lasting Power of Attorney, which is a formal legal document that names people they want to help them should they lose capacity.
However, sometimes events can overtake themselves and if no such power has been put in place then your relatives can apply to the ‘Court of Protection’, asking them to appoint and supervise someone to look after your affairs; a person they call a ‘deputy’.
Our team can assist with such applications and advise ‘deputies’ regarding their obligations and, when asked to do so. We are also able to use our expertise and experience to even act as ‘deputy’.