A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for health and welfare is a legal document that allows an individual to appoint someone they trust to make decisions about their medical treatment and personal welfare in the event that they are no longer able to make these decisions for themselves due to mental or physical incapacity.

The LPA for health and welfare gives the attorney the power to make decisions about the individual’s medical treatment, care, and living arrangements. This can include decisions about where they live, what medical treatment they receive, and even whether they should receive life-sustaining treatment.

The individual, known as the “donor,” can specify in the LPA the types of decisions they want the attorney to be able to make and can also include any restrictions and conditions on how the attorney can use these powers. The attorney must always act in the best interests of the donor and in accordance with the donor’s wishes, as far as they are known.

It is important to choose an attorney carefully, as they will have significant control over the donor’s health and welfare. The donor can appoint more than one attorney, and they can choose to appoint them to act jointly or severally, depending on their preference.

The LPA for health and welfare can only be used once it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The registration process involves a series of checks by the OPG to ensure that the LPA is legally valid and that the donor was of sound mind and understood what they were doing when they made the LPA.

In short, a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare provides peace of mind to the individual by ensuring that their health and welfare will be managed in the way they would wish in the event of mental or physical incapacity. It is an important aspect of estate planning and should not be overlooked.

In addition to drafting the document, our service includes the process of registering the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). This is an important step in ensuring that the LPA is legally valid and can be used if needed.

To register an LPA, the individual must first complete the LPA form and have it signed and witnessed by two people who are not the attorney or a close relative. The form and any relevant supporting documentation must then be sent to the OPG for registration.

The registration service involves a series of checks by the OPG to ensure that the LPA is legally valid and that the individual who made the LPA was of sound mind and understood what they were doing. If there are any concerns or objections, the OPG may carry out further investigations before deciding whether to register the LPA.

Once the LPA is registered, the attorney can start using it to make decisions on behalf of the individual. It is important to keep the LPA registration up to date and to notify the OPG of any changes, such as a change in the attorney’s address or the death of the individual.

In conclusion, the lasting power of attorney for health and welfare affairs is an important aspect of estate planning that provides peace of mind to the individual by ensuring that their health and welfare will be managed in the way they would wish in the event of mental or physical incapacity. The registration service with the OPG is an important step in ensuring that the LPA is legally valid and can be used if needed.