Power of attorney questions.

Mottie · 8 Mar 2021

My mum has asked me to sort out LPA's for both her finance and health. Will be administered jointly by myself and my sister. In addition to the application fees (£82 per LPA) our solicitor wants £550 plus vat for doing it. They are not doing face to face appointments so will all be done by email and zoom.

I’ve looked upon the .Gov website and it seems extremely straight forward. Just names, addresses etc and any special instructions - (will have to talk to my mum first to see if she has any).

She won’t mind paying for the solicitor if needed but looking at it, it seems that they will just be asking the same questions and filling the same form in and charging her £660 for the privilege. Has anyone on here done this? Is it as straightforward as it seems?

JohnD · 8 Mar 2021

I did one. my mum's long-term family solictor refused to visit her in hospital (so I crossed him off the list for any future business)

Another local one said I could do it myself and kindly sent me a blank form.

Guess who got future work?

You do need to have the signatures witnessed.

You should have at least two people who are considerably younger and unlikely to peg out or become infirm. Sometimes nephews or neices will do it if you agree to do the same for their AP. It must be someone who is not grasping or dishonest.

Ask what procedures the banks and other companies use. In my case, the local Barclays refused to accept it unless my mother got off her hospital bed and came to the branch. This was appalling.

crystal ball · 8 Mar 2021

I have LPA for MIL & had it for FIL, we did it through solicitors mainly because my SIL is as mad as a box of frogs so it needed to be bombproof, it cost around £1800 I recall with a home visit by solicitor & associate.

durhamplumber · 8 Mar 2021

According to MrsDurhamplumber (Banker) do it on govt website and no need for solicitor.

Doug99 · 8 Mar 2021

A solicitor isn't always required for LPA's. Seems a lot of money just for them to complete a form as you can do it yourself and register it online.
Separate LPA's are required for Finance and Health.
Have a look at www.gov.uk which has good info and has an online LPA process to follow for completion and registration of LPAs.

Mottie · 8 Mar 2021

Doug99 said:
A solicitor isn't always required for LPA's. Seems a lot of money just for them to complete a form as you can do it yourself and register it online.
Separate LPA's are required for Finance and Health.
Have a look at www.gov.uk which has good info and has an online LPA process to follow for completion and registration of LPAs.

Yeah, thanks. I’ve already done 90% of it online for both LPA's and saved it. Took less than 10 minutes. Just have to let my sis look through it and discuss any special requirements with my mum. Then it can be printed out, signed, witnessed and sent off. Just seems too easy!

durhamplumber · 8 Mar 2021

Mottie said:
Just seems too easy!

Solicitors do like to make stuff seem complex...(££££)

Mottie · 8 Mar 2021

durhamplumber said:
Solicitors do like to make stuff seem complex...(££££)

I think they learned that trick from you plumbers....

johnny2007 · 8 Mar 2021

Mottie said:
I think they learned that trick from you plumbers....

BOOM!
GOT YOU IN THE NUTS!

conny · 8 Mar 2021

My wife has LPA for her stepdad. I'm sure she didn't use a solicitor and just got 2 independent witnesses to sign the papers.
She then had a friend, who was a legal secretary to have a look and she got her old boss to have a read. Everything in place and in order. No need to pay extortionate fees to anyone.

crystal ball · 8 Mar 2021

Having a mad SIL is costing the family lots of money, she has accused us of changing her parents will without her knowledge and has threatened legal action, so we are forced to use solicitors for everything

Notch7 · 8 Mar 2021

Mottie said:
Yeah, thanks. I’ve already done 90% of it online for both LPA's and saved it. Took less than 10 minutes. Just have to let my sis look through it and discuss any special requirements with my mum. Then it can be printed out, signed, witnessed and sent off. Just seems too easy!

Be very careful.

My MIL did a POA and one of the witnesses gave an incorrect address.....making it void and a new application had to be paid for again.

I got a company to set up a POA for my Dad....mostly because my Dad was worried about it and his eyesight was terribly bad. I think it cost about £300 and would've been an extra £100 for health

motorbiking · 9 Mar 2021

3 hours work seems a bit excessive, they do need to do some checks but this should be around 300 tops.

It’s a simple process.

alan333 · 9 Mar 2021

My sister and I just arranged one in Scotland for a parent, cost via our local "family law attorney" was £297. We felt it better to go via a lawyer to ensure it's all above board.
edit... the bill included any fees

crystal ball · 9 Mar 2021

Depends on your attitude to risk I suppose, if theres a fly in the ointment such as in our case, we did not want to be accused of any underhand stuff

Power of attorney questions.

durhamplumber

durhamplumber

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