Many of us worry that as we grow older we will become too ill or confused to handle our own affairs. We often have to turn to relatives or friends for help. A long-term solution is to make a Power of Attorney which gives a relative, friend or professional advisor the authority to manage your financial affairs.

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a document in which you appoint someone to deal with either your financial affairs or make decisions for you in respect of medical or welfare matters.

You do not need to give up total control of your affairs unless you wish to. You can continue to look after your affairs for as long as you can; by making a Lasting Power of Attorney this simply means that there is someone to take over if or when you can no longer do so.

Other types of Powers of Attorney can be made, depending on your particular needs. For example, you can make an Ordinary Power of Attorney to appoint someone to sign documents on your behalf to complete a property sale or purchase if you are perhaps out of the country or unavailable to sign at the time of completion.