Making Lasting Powers of Attorney Easier to Use

Making Lasting Powers of Attorney Easier to Use

But with a warning… The Office of the Public Guardian has launched a project to make LPAs easier to use in for both Donors (the ones make the LPAs so others can support them now or in the future) and the people who look after them (or will do) the Attorneys. Being able to sort out lots of the issues of registering LPAs with banks and other firms needing to prove the Attorney’s authority will become much easier for new LPAs, and in time for existing LPAs in the online world we live in. So into the 21st century plunges the OPG….

So the OPG have launched their ‘Use a lasting power of attorney’ service, which lets Donors and Attorneys give access to relevant organisations to view a summary of the LPA online. I am sure this won’t enable all the hoops to be jumped through easily with all the Money Laundering and Proof of Identity issues, but it is a step in the right direction.

How it works

Once a Lasting Power of Attorney has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, attorneys and donors will be sent an activation key which enables them to create an online account which they can use to share.   We have some concerns over this, as it could mean that the Attorneys gain control of financial affairs before the Donor wishes them too, so we’re awaiting feedback on that issue before recommending the immediate use of this system – unless the Donor wishes the Property and Financial Affairs LPA to be used immediately.  The same issue does not really apply to the Health and Welfare LPA as that can only be used when the Donor is unable to make a decision within a reasonable timeframe bearing in mind the urgency of the issue.

So Donors and Attorneys can create an online account and use the activation key to add LPAs to their account. They can then make an access key to allow relevant organisations to view an online summary of an LPA.

When will I be able to use the new service?

With over 4 million registered LPAs, it will be some time before existing LPAs registered before 17th July 2020 can use the service as it is a massive undertaking started at a difficult time for staff too.   That said, there are no plans in the short term to go back to LPAs registered before mid 2019.

Making Lasting Powers of Attorney Easier to Use

Make LPAs, Making Lasting Powers of Attorney Easier to Use