A new year has arrived but sadly, for many of us, not much has changed since 2020. Hopefully, with vaccines now available, we will soon start to be able to go about our lives in a more normal way but, in the meantime, COVID-19 is still very much with us and we’re finding our lives are still restricted.
By now, you’ve no doubt sorted your toilet roll supply and know the drill for Lockdown 3. But one thing many people haven’t thought of is something we think is really important and which could really be useful to you and your family if the worst happens and you become ill or unable to do things for yourself. We are talking here about Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). LPAs allow you to choose who you want to look after you and your affairs if you can’t do it yourself. There are two types of LPA, one to cover your financial affairs and one to help you in relation to your health and welfare. Both are particularly important right now given the uncertainty with which we are all living.
An LPA for Property and Financial Affairs allows the person you have chosen as an attorney to help you manage your finances. This is not just for elderly people but for anyone who might be struggling because they have to self-isolate or shield, or because of travel problems. Your attorney can do things for you when you need them to, from simply having a card for your bank account so they can do so some shopping for you, through to much more complex matters such as dealing with your investments or even having to sell your property if this was needed. Your attorney must always act in your best interests and that’s why it is important that you get to choose who you want as your attorney.
An LPA for Health and Welfare means that you know that you have someone in your corner if you aren’t able to make decisions about your own care. We believe that during this unusual time, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your wishes can be heard regarding your health and care.
You may think that LPAs are just for the elderly but that is certainly not the case. If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it is that any of us can get ill or find ourselves unable to deal with our own affairs at any time.
If you are bringing in the main income for your household, could your family cope if you weren’t able to sort out the finances? Do you have separate bank accounts that bills are paid from? If so, how will the bills get paid if you can‘tdo it? None of us can see what the future holds and that makes it even more important to make sure you and your family can be looked after if needed.
We feel so strongly that everyone should put both of LPAs in place that if you instruct us to draw up one type of LPA for you, we will draw up the other one for you for free.
Isn’t it time to put your LPAs in place to give you and your family peace of mind that you can be looked after now and in the future?
For more information call Cath Collins on 07593 549764
