Once you have gone gaga, you will not have the mental capacity to complete the LPA � and therefore it is vital you complete the LPA while you still meet the criteria set out by the LPA.
My initial post is incorrect !!!!
Once completed, an LPA can be registered immediately so that it is ready to be used once you lack capacity.
However, an LPA gives your attorney (the person you have entrusted with making decisions for you) powerful control over your life. Theoretically your attorney cannot act for you until you have lost the capacity to decide for yourself.
To me, there don�t appear to be sufficient safeguards to stop an unscrupulous attorney using an LPA for their gain, when you consider you still have the mental capacity to act for yourself.
Therefore, in my opinion, it would be far better to complete the LPA, ready to be registered once you know you are starting to go gaga. That way, you and your attorney would agree that the time has come, when your attorney should be making decisions for you.
Should you be unfortunate to suffer a dramatic loss of mental capacity (e.g. stroke etc), your LPA would be ready to be registered � and your attorney could start deciding things for you.