A Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, is a legal document that lets you (the donor) appoint one or more people (your attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf. It replaced the older enduring power of attorney in 2007, and it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. Putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place while you have full mental capacity means the people you choose can step in smoothly if you later lose the ability to manage your own affairs. Without one, your family may have to apply to the Court of Protection instead, which is slower, more expensive and outside your control.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney, and most people are advised to put both in place. A property and financial affairs LPA covers decisions about money and property, such as managing bank accounts, paying bills, collecting income and selling a home. It can be used as soon as it is registered, with your permission, or only when you lose capacity. A health and welfare LPA covers decisions about your care and medical treatment, including where you live, day-to-day care and, if you choose, decisions about life-sustaining treatment. This type can only be used once you are no longer able to make those decisions yourself. The two cover very different ground, which is why we usually recommend both.

Your attorneys hold significant responsibility, so who you appoint matters. They must always act in your best interests, follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and keep your money separate from their own. You can appoint more than one attorney and decide whether they must act together or can act independently, and you can name replacements in case an attorney is unable to continue. As LPA solicitors, we help you think through these choices properly, rather than leaving gaps that cause difficulty later.

The cost of a Lasting Power of Attorney has two parts: the registration fee payable to the Office of the Public Guardian for each LPA, and the professional fees for the advice and preparation. Some people are exempt from or entitled to a reduction in the registration fee depending on their circumstances. We are clear about our fees from the outset and can often prepare LPAs on a fixed-fee basis, so you know exactly what you are paying before any work begins.

We make putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place straightforward, and we give the decisions behind it the care they deserve. This is not a form-filling exercise; it is a document that may one day give someone authority over your home, your money and your care.

• Clear advice on which LPAs you need and how they should be structured;

• Careful drafting of any preferences and instructions, so your document reflects what you actually want;

• Guidance on choosing and appointing attorneys and replacements;

• Handling of registration with the Office of the Public Guardian on your behalf; and

• Fixed-fee options where appropriate, agreed with you before we start.