Whilst we are an ageing population, sadly, some of us may become frail and therefore vulnerable in later life, making it difficult for us to manage our finances and to take the best decisions about our welfare.
We can protect our interests by appointing Attorneys of our own choice to manage our affairs and to have legal authority to help us to take the best decisions about our lives and welfare.
Alternatively, if you or one of your loved ones has decided not to take such a step but then loses capacity we can advise on how the Court of Protection will authorise someone to handle your affairs and we can deal with any necessary application on your behalf.
Property and Affairs
You may not need any help from an Attorney now or in the foreseeable future but you may wish to appoint one or more people whom you trust to take responsibility for the management of some or all of your financial affairs if you should lose mental capacity in the future.
Sedgwick Legal have an experienced team who can advise you about how to tailor make your appointment of an Attorney by incorporating any conditions or guidance you consider to be appropriate in a formal legal document.
Your Welfare
You may appoint one or more people to take decisions about your medical care and welfare if you lose mental capacity in the future.
In the Lasting Power, you may give or refuse consent to your attorneys to agree to life sustaining treatment.
To provide for greater flexibility in light of progress in medical treatment, you may prefer not to restrict your attorney(s)’ powers but to set out in the documents specific guidance as to how you would like your attorneys to act.
Sedgwick Legal experienced legal team can prepare the documents on your behalf.
The Court of Protection
Witnessing the loss of capacity of a loved one through illness or accident is very distressing and understanding how best to obtain authority to safeguard the person’s finances and applying to the Court can be a great burden to carry. Sedgwick Legal have in depth experience in applying to the Court of Protection for authority to handle all aspects of a vulnerable person’s income and assets if that person loses capacity. The firm’s specialist team appreciate the difficulties and provide understanding and practical advice to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.
Funding of Care
The funding of care costs for the elderly and vulnerable is a very contentious and complex area, demanding knowledge of NHS funding criteria and the powers of a local authority to take a charge over a person’s assets to recover care fees. Sedgwick Legals specialist team can help to resolve funding issues.
