Published on: 22nd September 2016

Why do I need a LPA?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf, particularly at times when you are unable to do so for yourself.

If you don't have registered LPAs in place, ask yourself the following two questions:

Would you wait until you've had a car accident before trying to take out car insurance?

Would you wait until your house had burned down before trying to take out house insurance?

Both questions seem ridiculous. To drive without insurance or to not to have house insurance in place would be foolish in the extreme. However, many of the people we discuss LPAs with respond in a similar fashion - "I don't need LPAs at the moment, because there's nothing wrong with me."

When it comes to LPAs the fundamental principle, that many people overlook, is that the very nature of the documents dictates that they can only be created whilst there is "nothing wrong".

The hope is that we create LPAs, put them somewhere safe, and there continues to be "nothing wrong" and we never have to think about the LPAs again. But do we take out house insurance and then hope our house burns down so we can use it? Of course not. But what we pay for is the peace of mind to know that, if the worst comes to the worst, we are covered.

Having LPAs is like having insurance in place on your own well-being so that, if the worst does happen and they are needed, we have them, they're ready to use and the people using them will have been chosen by us.

Just remember, it is far better to have LPAs and not need them, than it is to need them and not have them!

Click here for more information on how we can help you set up and LPA.

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