The most up to date data from the government shows that almost 193,000 Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPAs) were registered in the April – June quarter of 2022. This is an increase of 20% on the same period of 2021 but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Whilst LPAs are undoubtedly a very important part of planning for the future, research undertaken by Solicitors for the Elderly in 2020 revealed that 75% of people aged 40+ do not have an LPA in place.
Over recent years there has been a drive by the Office of the Public Guardian (the Government agency which registers LPAs and supervises Attorneys) to raise public awareness of the importance of LPAs and to encourage members of the public to submit their own applications. Unfortunately, a 2020 Freedom of Information request from consumer champion Which? showed that 22,000 LPAs a year are rejected by the OPG.
LPAs are a formal legal document known as a Deed and therefore have to be completed in accordance with strict requirements. There are also significant steps which can be taken to make LPAs bespoke to the person who is preparing the document, by way of including a wide variety of instructions and preferences.
By asking an SFE accredited solicitor (such as those at BBS Law) to assist you with the preparation of your LPA, you can be reassured that it will be prepared correctly and in a way which meets your own specific needs and wishes.
By Kerry Blackhurst – Private Client Associate
