v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v 28th August 2025 • The HERALD • Page 61 ASK A PROFESSIONAL Lasting Power of Attorney rather than later. Property and Financial Affairs LPA Under the LPA for Property and Financial Affairs, while you can make your own decisions, you can ask your attorneys to assist you with your nancial matters, for example, signing documents for you or going into the bank on your behalf. Health & Welfare LPA Your attorneys would only be able to act if you were unable to make decisions yourself. e decisions could be things such as your daily routine for example washing, dressing and eating, medical care and where you live. You can also authorise your attorneys to make decisions about life sustaining treatment. Simplifying the process for your family If you lose mental capacity to make your own decisions without an LPA in place, your loved ones will have to apply for a Deputyship Order from the Court of Protection (Court Appointed Deputy). This is a significantly more costly and complicated application than making LPAs at an already di cult time. An LPA provides peace of mind An LPA gives you peace of mind that someone you know, and importantly trust, oversees your a airs and ensures that your wishes are followed. If you lose mental capacity without an LPA, it can cost your family time and thousands of pounds to be given permission to handle your a airs. Protecting your finances and property If you are the primary earner and you became incapacitated, it is likely that your family or friends would need urgent access to your bank accounts to ensure essential bills continue to be paid. An LPA protects your loved ones from entering a legal limbo where they cannot make these crucial decisions. ink of LPAs as an insurance policy, just like home or motor insurance. Once you have made LPAs and the documents have been registered, you can simply le them away and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if anything should happen, they are in place to make things easier. A er all, we look a er our cars, homes and travel in case the ‘worst’ should happen, so why not our ability to make decisions? At TMT Legal Services, we approach planning for your LPA with understanding, compassion and sensitivity. Our teams in Hythe and Chandler’s Ford, or further a eld in Southampton and Horsham provide clear and straightforward advice. We’ll help you create an LPA that’s perfectly tailored to your speci c needs, ensuring it’s correctly registered and giving you and your family peace of mind. Contact the Client Services Team on 0333 188 4758, enquiry@ tmtlegalservices.co.uk or pop in to our o ces in Hythe at 12 e Marsh, SO45 6AL or Chandler’s Ford at 12 e Mall, Winchester Road, SO53 2QD where there will always be a friendly face and a warm welcome. Continued from page 60 Kelly Dawkins, Chartered Legal Executive & Probate Practitioner at TMT Legal Services LLP
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