Lasting Power of Attorney

[HistoryBluff]

Repost from Money Matters as I'm hoping someone here as some experience of LPAs. I'm trying to help my parents set up a Lasting Power of Attorney for their financial affairs and all was going well doing it online, but we have one final hurdle to jump and I'm hoping someone can help. My father has mental capacity, but struggles physically and so we ticked the box that said he was unable to sign. My mum is signing on his behalf and her signature has been witnessed on Continuation Sheet 3. The problem is we don't know if that alone means that she is able to sign off the whole document, on behalf of my dad as the donor, before we send it off to be registered. Or does my dad have to make some kind of mark? Mum tried phoning the helpline today, but there was a 45 minute wait, so she emailed, but they said they can't respond within 25 days, which means we are over our 40 day limit to register the LPA. Can anyone advise us? Thanks.

I don't know the answer to your specific question but have a lot of experience trying to get through to the LPA advisors from earlier this year. I learnt that at certain times (eg midweek, first thing or around 4pm), though there was still a wait ("you are no 15 in the queue rather than no 47"), it took around 20 mins, and they were incredibly helpful once I got through. Good Luck.

I agree with pp try to phone again.
Can't you keep it on loudspeaker whilst just do other things?
They are great when you get through or they give you another contact to speak to further.
Is there no way you dad can sign it?
If it's unlikely to be disputed could you get him to try?

Agree with trying again. I'd also talk to your DPs about the Health LPA as well. Without that, we wouldn't have been able to get DF treatment (GP was worse than useless) or the death the way he wanted. We never actually used the Financial one for him.

Yes, get health and welfare as well, so you decide which home they have to go in, if its ever necessary, rather than social services.

I finally got through to the Office of the Public Guardian and it is straightforward: mum can sign the final donor page on behalf of dad. Thanks everyone for your advice. We're going to have a go at the health and welfare LPA next. Wish us luck!