Lasting Power Of Attorney

[dollymay]

This is a follow up to my post in May. My husband and I have LPA's both in each other's favour set up a couple of years back. Both were registered at the time with the Office of Public Guardian. The original is with our solicitors, who drew up all the documentation, we have copies. It is possible I might have to 'activate' mine for my husband, who is in a nursing home, he is able to comprehend but not really able to make decisions but I am sure he would agree (and is capable of agreeing) to my making these for him. I am not sure if he can physically sign a document. However my solicitor says in order to enact the LPA's I need signed copies, which will cost £30 each through them. He was vague about how many I would need and how long they would be valid for. The only one that is likely to be needed soon is to claim for his hospital stay with our private health company (Benenden), which will probably require his signature. I am confused, if it has been registered why cant I just use the LPA now? Should I be thinking of getting another solicitor, and if so can I just ask the original one to send me the originals? Appreciate your advice please??

[THECORBYLOON]

GYLLY, I would be surprised if that were done nationally.

If yous have the time to do that for folk, fair enough but the fact remains they will only be copies and not certified copies

[barry1010]

We did our LPAs ourselves, we are currently using them for two people and have never needed certified copies. We deal with the banks, DWP, GP, hospitals, everything you can think of without problems.

[gylly]

No, if we see the original with the printed holes, each page is stamped and signed to say that it is a certified copy of the original.

[THECORBYLOON]

GYLLY, I used to work at DWP (not a Jovcentre) and if we copied anything official for our use, we would note it as a "True" or "Certified" copy of the original but that was to show we had SEEN the original and returnt it.

That is fine for DWP use but if another organization needs to see a Certified Copy of an LPA, a Jobcentre stamp on a copy saying it's "certifified" would not be acceptable.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be doing it because it's not up to you what claimants/customers do with the copies you give them.

This link states who can certify copies

https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/certify

[THECORBYLOON]

GYLLY, when you say "printed holes", do you mean actual holes or images of the holes?

[gylly]

I mean actual holes where the paper has been pierced.