insideKENT Magazine Issue 46 - January 2016 | Page 135
LAW
BE PREPARED – MAKE THE CHOICE NOW
IT IS A SAD FACT THAT SOME OF US EVENTUALLY NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO ACT ON OUR
BEHALF, EITHER IN THE SHORT TERM OR ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS. YOU CAN
MAKE THE CHOICE IN ADVANCE TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE PERSON YOU WANT
ACTING IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS, WHILST ALLOWING A SEAMLESS TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY
OVER YOUR AFFAIRS. IF YOU WANT TO NOMINATE A PERSON IN ADVANCE YOU NEED
TO CREATE A POWER OF ATTORNEY.
If you lose capacity to deal with
your own affairs without a Power
of Attorney in place the Local
Authority could apply to the Court
of Protection for an official to be
appointed to deal with your affairs.
There are two different types of
Power of Attorney enabling the
delegation of a range of powers to
ensure the best fit for your
needs. Lasting Powers of Attorney
– Property and Financial Affairs and
Lasting Powers of Attorney – Health
& Welfare.
Careful consideration needs to be
given as to the powers you
delegate, what restrictions you put
in place and most importantly your
choice of one or more Attorneys,
and replacement Attorneys in case
your first choice is unable to act.
T G Baynes Solicitors has an
experienced team that can help
guide you through these decisions
and create an appropriate Power
of Attorney. They have two
specialist solicitors who are fully
accredited members of the
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) which
provides specialist legal advice for
older and vulnerable people, their
families and carers.
Health & Welfare – Lasting Power
of Attorney
A Personal Welfare Lasting Power
of Attorney enables you to appoint
someone to be consulted over
important medical decisions in the
event that you are unable to
communicate such consent
yourself. There are also ways in
which you can specify certain
restrictions on the nature of your
medical treatment in the event of
your incapacity. T G Baynes
Solicitors can guide you through
the difficult decisions involved here.
Lasting Powers of Attorney –
Property and Financial Affairs
The main aim of a Property and
Financial Affairs Lasting Power of
Attorney is to enable people, whilst
they are still mentally capable, to
delegate control over part or all of
their financial affairs to somebody
else. In the event of the onset of
mental or physical incapacity, the
existence of a Lasting Power of
Attorney can be of enormous help
to both you and your family in
ensuring you can be assisted and
cared for as quickly and efficiently
as possible. A Lasting Power of
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Attorney can also be used before the onset of such incapacity. Careful
consideration needs to be given as to the powers you delegate and most
importantly your choice of an Attorney and T G Baynes Solicitors can guide
you through these decisions.
In some cases if you have no family to act as an Attorney you can appoint
one of T G Baynes’ partners to manage your financial affairs in the event
that you become incapacitated.
With over 120 years of legal experience and ranked as one of the Top 500
legal firms in the country T G Baynes are your leading local Solicitors. They
have offices in Dartford, Bexleyheath and Orpington and where needed,
can arrange a home visit.
Please contact 020 8301 7777 to arrange an appointment
or email [email protected]. Further information can be
found on www.tgbaynes.com.