LPA question - can my sister pay me for my time?

[VitreousHumour]

Are there any lawyers around? I'd really appreciate a steer on this LPA question.

My sister has LPA for my father, who lacks capacity. To make sure he can cover care home fees indefinitely, we've just sold a flat my father owned in Italy.

My dad's affairs are in total chaos, so someone had to go to Italy to sort out all the irregularities in the paperwork, find a lawyer and estate agent, pay outstanding bills, arrange houseclearance etc.My sister's work involvesvery long hours and no flexibility, and I'm freelance, so I went. Once I was back in the UK there were many many hours of calls and correspondence - it's been a very complicated process with lots of back and forth.

I've had to turn workdown to get through it all and I can't really afford to, so we're wondering whether I can claim anything back. I'm not currently one of the attorneys, though I'm listed as a replacement attorney on the LPA. Presumably, if I hadn't existed, my sister would have had to hire an agent or lawyer to do this for her, so I'm happy that it's fair from a moral perspective - but I definitely don't want to do anything that might mean my sister's actions as attorney could be called into question.

Any help gratefully received!

A colleague of mine was the attorney for her mother and she was paid £500 per month although she was also her carer.

Is there any one else who has an interest who might not agree? Like another sibling? That's where the problems arise sometimes (I work indirectly in this field).

But if everyone's in agreement, if you could itemise your expenses and you and your sister agree a rate, I don't think there's any reason why she can't pay you. But a word to the wise: GET IT ALL ON PAPER - YES I AM SHOUTING - make sure all receipts are filed etc. In other words, make sure both your arses are covered.

Thank you so much @StCharlotte. My sister is completely in agreement and I think I'm definitely okay to claim expenses. It's the claiming for time spent aspect of things that's less clear - do you think I should charge my own daily rate? Or the daily rate we would have been charged had we had to hire someone else to do it for us? And who would we have hired?! So many questions!

H

To completely cover yourself, I’d get three quotes from people you could have hired, and then pay yourself the average. It’s a common method to agree a fair cost.

That's fantastic - really appreciate both your help.