Can you make a Power of Attorney online?

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It is possible to make a Power of Attorney online, but whether you should is an entirely different matter. The process of making a Power of Attorney seems straightforward, but for those who are unfamiliar with the process, there are many potential pitfalls which could result in your application being rejected or your wishes not being carried out correctly. In this article, I will look at some of the common difficulties I see when clients attempt to make a Power of Attorney online.

How can you make a Power of Attorney online?

There are many ways to make a Power of Attorney online, with a variety of businesses looking to provide the service. It can be difficult to know whether these businesses are legitimate, and the level of service and assistance offered varies greatly.

For a Power of Attorney to be valid, it must be signed by any attorneys nominated as well as witnesses. The Power of Attorney must also be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian otherwise it will not be valid.

Why use a solicitor to set up a Power of Attorney?

When you use a solicitor to set up your Power of Attorney, you can be confident that it will be set up correctly and tailored to meet your needs and circumstances. Your solicitor will not only set up the Power of Attorney but can also provide you with essential advice. For example, they can help you decide who you should appoint as your attorney, ensure that they are willing and able to act, and understand their duties and obligations as an attorney.

Your solicitor can also help you to set out clearly how your Power of Attorney should operate. Can attorneys make decisions alone, or must they make decisions jointly with others? How should the Power of Attorney operate if assets are owned jointly or held abroad? Do you need a separate power of attorney to cover your business interests? These are just some of the questions that may arise during discussions with a solicitor that are often overlooked when people attempt to set up a Power of Attorney using an online service.

You may also wish to set out your wishes for how your affairs should be managed, and a solicitor will help you to express any wishes you have clearly. They can also advise on how these should be set out to ensure that all eventualities are covered and your wishes can be carried out.

Your solicitor will explain the effects of a Power of Attorney to you clearly to ensure that you understand, which can prevent the validity of the Power of Attorney from being challenged at a later date. They can also advise you on any additional steps you may wish to take, such as revising your will or inheritance tax planning.

To discuss this or any other matter directly with Sue, please call 01483 887766, email info@hartbrown.co.uk or start a live chat today.

*This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.

 

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Sue Macleod

Senior Associate, Trusts & Estates

Sue is a Senior Associate in the Trusts and Estates department, primarily dealing with wills, estate administration, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney and Court...

Sue Macleod -Associate, Trusts & Estates

Senior Associate, Trusts & Estates

Sue Macleod

Sue is a Senior Associate in the Trusts and Estates department, primarily dealing with wills, estate administration, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney and Court of Protection work.

Sue qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and has worked for Hart Brown since 1997 apart from a 4 year career break.

Sue’s clients provide excellent feedback: “An excellent and efficient service. Would highly recommend to friends and family”.