The purpose of a Lasting Power of Attorney (formerly known as an enduring power of attorney) is to appoint an attorney to manage your financial affairs if you are incapable to manage yourself through disability or decline of your mental faculties e.g. through old age or illness. You can give a general power over all your assets or affairs or a restricted power over some assets and matters.

You also have a choice to include in the Lasting Power of Attorney provision for decisions to be made for your healthcare and welfare if you are unable to do so yourself.

To create a Lasting Power of Attorney, lengthy forms need to be completed, notices given to certain individuals, and a certificate issued by a practitioner such as a solicitor that you are able to decide for yourself and execute legal documents. The documents then have to be lodged in the Court of Protection for registration.