Lasting Power of Attorney - solicitor or not?

[Hihosilver123]

I want to get both LPAs in place. My situation is straightforward in terms of health and finance. Am thinking I could just use the .Gov one, or one of the companies who use the .gov one but do the admin for you. If I use a solicitor it’s about £800 more and I’m not sure why I’d need a solicitor. Any advice??

You don’t need a solicitor. I used the govt ones - all very straightforward. You just need to pay the registration fees.

Very straightforward to do without using a solicitor.

If its straightforward and uncontentious, then there is no need at all for a solicitor

No need for a solicitor. Just follow the instructions carefully and use the checker afterwards to make sure you've signed in the right order.

I did mine earlier this year. No need for a solicitor . Just follow the instructions yo
the letter on the .gov web site.

Very easy to use the government forms on the official website. I’ve done it for my parents and an elderly relative all with no issues.

No need to pay a solicitor to do it. Do follow the instructions carefully, especially in relation to the signatures, but it’s perfectly simple to do it yourself.

I have just sent mine off to the OPG, very straightforward on line, cost £92

Agree with everyone else, the online form is fine, you don't need a solicitor but do read through their instructions very carefully and be super careful and precise with the signatures and dates and getting everything in the right order - they really mean it when they say a small error will cause the whole thing to be rejected - one of mine was sent back because one of the witnesses had made a tiny mistake when dating her signature (one digit slightly over the edge of the box) - so if there's even a small error reprint that page and try again rather than chancing it is my advice....

Did my parents online - straightforward as everyone has said. Just ensure you follow the instructions carefully. Solicitors such a rip off!

Did my mum's online too. Definitely wouldn't pay a solicitor for this.

Do you need to print the forms if you do it online?

Need to get someone to sign my mums and struggling to find anyone ( she has a small social circle, mostly family) I know it says dr but not sure who else

My parents did theirs themselves online a few years back, it was all fine. I wouldn't bother using a solicitor.

Same.

Yes - the donor, certificate provider and witnesses all need to physically sign. I don't think there's a way of doing it fully online...

Absolutely use the online forms which you print off for everyone to sign, then pay the fee. I've done it several times with relatives and for myself. No need for a solicitor at all.

Do check it carefully. We missed the date off by one signature so had to redo it and pay again - though it was half price if you did it quickly. Still much cheaper than a solicitor though.

(And beware. With some signatures you have to write your full name underneath and on another page your name and address goes by the side of the signature. Easy to middle them, but easy to print off a new page too.)

The .gov ones are fine. Did mine earlier this year.
IIRC you can only have a max of six weeks between signatures and posting them off. Make sure the signatures are dated in the right order, this is when all those tiddly post it notes are handy so everyone knows where they are signing.
Took about two months from posting to receiving mine back complete.

Those who did it without a solicitor, who was your certificate provider and how much involvement did they actually have?

I can’t remember who I used for my own, but when I did one for an elderly friend I got a neighbour who knew her well to come in and sign to say that she had understood what she was doing.

That was it, he knew what it was about, I deliberately left the room so he could talk to her on her own, and then he signed it. Very straightforward.

What do you mean?

You print off the forms off the gov website.

Someone has to sign the forms as 'certificate provider' to confirm the donor understands what they are signing and aren't being coerced. Quite an important part of the process. If you're using a solicitor they will usually provide the certificate and if there's any contentiousness or doubt over the person's capacity to sign it would be wise to get a solicitor or doctor or other professional to sign. However for a straightforward one it can be anyone who has known the person 2 years and isn't one of the attorneys or their relatives. We used a friend, but you could also ask a neighbour if they're comfortable they know the person well enough?

Oh I do remember we had a neighbour/friend as a witness?! So that must have been for that.

We did ours ourselves. It’s perfectly straightforward, only you do need to read the instructions very carefully, particularly as regards signing and dating. Any mistake means it’ll be rejected and you’ll have to start - and pay - again.

The certificate provider is a separate role from the witness/es.