Power of attorney

I bought a printer about two years ago solely for the purpose of doing my Power Of Attorney’s and I haven’t done them yet 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

We did it for my mum after dad died. Registed it and never needed it until a week before she died.
At the same time we set them up for DH and I with each other and both sons as attorneys.
The HMRC website is very very helpful and designed for people to do it themselves. You just have to read everything thoroughly and do it carefully.

Thank you all for the helpful advice. I was quoted over £1000, so 2x£84 sounds good to me.

Just to add, you can if you don't have access to the internet or a printer, phone up and they will send you a paper pack to complete. It comes complete with notes and a list of frequently asked questions too.

Yes fairly straightforward. I used post it notes stuck to the pages to make sure it was signed in the correct order.

We did POA for health and finances through a solicitor at the same time as my mum changed her will. Yes it was costly put worded as it should be.

Thank goodness we did, if not then the hospital would have had their way and sent my dad to a care home instead of back to his sheltered accommodation where he is now picking up slowly with carers and family .

My daughter got the name of a lady who does them for £125.00 each. She works in a lawyers office but does them separately. As she does them in her work place for the clients but it’s part of her job ,she knows exactly how to fill them in. My husband has been really ill and I feel he is at the start of dementia so I used her as I didn’t want to make an error that meant I had to do them again in case he had deteriorated. They are done now so feel we both gained in our own way.

I did, it is really easy and I am not at all tech savvy. If you get stuck there’s is a help line you can phone answered by really helpful people.

so is this the same as "lasting" power of attorney or are they two different things?

We also did one online. We signed up for each other plus the kids. Seems only fair as our finances are so entwined and we're not married. Makes me think we should also update our wills, or perhaps remember where they are!

Setting POA up for me with my DS & DDiL! Taken a while as had to get to someone who had known me for a while. DS finally sent paperwork of Registered post so hopefully in a few weeks find out if we did it right or what mistakes we made! If mistakes made means starting again & paying more money which is annoying & takes money away from other needs but POA must be done! We did it for money (ha ha) & health as you do not know what is going to happen so better to be safe than sorry! When we started we tried using a company that had advertised locally. We found they did very little for so much money. So decided to go it alone hoping we have followed instructions properly!

Bear in mind that it can take 10 weeks to get them approved after sugning and sending off. And you only have 42 days from printing out the documents (you have to pay immediately) to getting them in or you will have to start again. You are not allowed to staple the sheets together, only an old fashioned paperclip is acceptable.

If you have an attorney living far away, you can send them the document attached to an email, tell them the relevant page to print and sign, with witness, and then it must be sent to you via snail mail, but it cuts down the time a bit. Well worth doing whilst you are fit and healthy, sadly none of us know how quickly we could deteriorate! 🙂

Yes done both for my dad and myself

I've done it too, all went through smoothly. But it does take a few weeks before they are approved.

And I urge anyone to get this sorted while they are still in good health physically and mentally.

mrsnonsmoker

so is this the same as "lasting" power of attorney or are they two different things?

One is for finance the other for Health, they are both vital to have but the old LPA is still valid, but does not cover Health so you need that one too if you have not got it. I did not have them when my husband had his massive stroke and really to have to fight to have him home and be the main carer as it was rather unusual back 20 years ago. He was totally paralysed so they did not think I could manage. I did win in the end with an excellent social worker.

Thanks to all of you for a very informative thread. It's something I must do.

sorry, really had to fight

I’m pleased that most of you have found it easy! We did not. It was the signing/dating that got us. Just a simple, teeny mistake gets it sent back. However, we did not have to pay again to re-do them. DH’s are now done; mine are not. I’ve got to the stage where I think I’ll get all the signatures, and then date them correctly 🤣🤣

Yes I did financial and health ones for my MIL, no problem it was excepted first time. Prior to this my parents paid a solicitor to do theirs, there were 2 errors which I ended up quering with the Office of the Public Guardian myself after my Dad’s came through but not my Mum’s. I then notified the solicitor for her to correct the errors.
Just follow the instructions and its fine

Yes I did ours online its straight forward . I only did the financial ones though . Does everyone think we need the health ones as well I just thought we'd follow doctors orders ?

Soozikinzi

Yes I did ours online its straight forward . I only did the financial ones though . Does everyone think we need the health ones as well I just thought we'd follow doctors orders ?

To me it was very important to have the H&W one, and to add my own wishes. Because I’ve seen far too much of dementia, so do NOT want any ‘striving to keep alive’ when the only prospect (or reality) is double incontinence, not recognising any family, no clue about anything, etc.

Keeping people going no matter the quality of life seems to be the default nowadays, though to be fair to medics, it would often seem to be family who want someone kept going, no matter how pitiful the state they’re in.

Dds know our wishes, and I’m sure will respect them, but I want it down in black and white, in case I’m unable to express myself with full mental capacity, because of dementia, or for any other reason.

If you don't have any sort of advance directive, be it a living will, or health power of attorney, doctors will have to attempt resuscitation, breaking ribs and risking paralysis or permanent vegetative state. The numbers of those resuscitated and able to go home is one in 12. Also you may want to state that you don't want to be put on a palliative care pathway denying food and water. Or that you do not want to be given the 'chemical cosh' which is given to make life easier for the staff, but can have mortal side effects. You can specify your choices in a health power of attorney.

Thanks, Georgesgran, for that reply. Also to other posters who have been very helpful.

Soozikinzi

Yes I did ours online its straight forward . I only did the financial ones though . Does everyone think we need the health ones as well I just thought we'd follow doctors orders ?

I would highly recommend you have it, your wishes can still be overruled of course, but they are much more likely to listen to you, particularly when and if you get to the care home stage but also in general once your loved one no longer has capacity.

Yes, I did mine about 10 years ago , with no problem.

Recently my neighbour did hers, with the help of her son. I was asked to be a witness, so popped next door - exceptI didn't pop, I staggered.
I did the witnessing, went home and rang the GP. Wont go into details but ended up at Casualty and was admitted with a pulmonary embolism in a hospital 10 miles away.

My poor neighbour had got one document done but needed me to witness the other one. As she doesn't drive, she ended up busing it to the hospital just to get my signature.
otherwise she would have had to start again!!