You may care for someone elderly and need advice or indeed you may just want to ensure your affairs are in order.  Common questions are:

• What can you do if someone close to you is unwell and can’t look after their finances?
• What would I do if I couldn’t look after my finances?
• Who would make those decisions for me?
• If I needed a nursing home in the future, who would make those decisions?

• Long Term Care Planning: It's hard to imagine not being able to live in your own home and look after yourself.  Planning at the right time to make sure any care you may need in the future is in place is important for some people.  Sometimes it is possible to protect the value of all or part of your home from having to be spent on care. Find out more about the rules about paying for a permanent care home place.
• Lasting Power of Attorney: Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 it is possible to appoint a person of your own choosing to administer your affairs in the event of mental incapacity.  There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney – one for property and financial affairs – and one for personal welfare.
• Property & Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney: This deals with property and financial matters. You must appoint an Attorney whilst you still have capacity. They can then act for you now (if you wish) and at such time that you may lack capacity in the future.
• A Personal Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney: This deals with personal healthcare and welfare. Your personal welfare Attorney can only make decisions when you lack the capacity to make them for yourself.
• Court of Protection: If you or a relative is unable to look after their own affairs and does not have a suitable Power of Attorney in place, it will probably be necessary to apply to the Court of Protection for someone to be appointed as their Deputy.  The process can seem daunting, but we have the experience and knowledge to help you.