Legal issues
As a carer it can be hard to find time to think about
planning for the future but thinking about some of the legal issues in advance
can avoid stress at a difficult time.
Wills
The best way to ensure that your wishes are clear
regarding who your home, money, possessions and your pets should go to after
you die is to make a legally valid will. You might find the information below useful:
Wills, Probate and Inheritance – UK Government Website
Making a Will – Age UK
Making a Will – Money Advice Service
Lasting Power of
Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document by
which one person gives another person (the Attorney) the power to act on their
behalf and in his or her name. This gives you more control over what happens to
you if you no longer have the ability to make your own decisions. An LPA can be
drawn up at any time while you have the mental capacity to do this but it has
no legal standing until it is registered with the Office of the Public
Guardian. There are two types of LPA –
Health & Welfare and Property & Financial Affairs. These links provide
more information about LPA and how to obtain one.
Make, register or end a Lasting Power of Attorney – UK Government Website
Age UK - Powers of Attorney
Mental Capacity – more information about the Mental Capacity Act can be found here >>
Trusts
A trust is a way of managing assets
(money, investments, land or buildings) for people. This is a legal
arrangement where one or more people controls money or assets (Trustees) which
they must use for the benefit of one or more people (beneficiaries).
Find out more at the UK Government Website
Obtaining Legal Advice
The following organisations can provide more information
about how to obtain legal advice.
LawWorks is a charity committed to
enabling access to justice through free legal advice.
Age UK Factsheet – Getting Legal Advice (pdf)
Finding Free or Affordable Legal Help – Citizens Advice
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