LPoA - DIY, or do we need solicitor?

[nomorespaghetti]

DH and I are sorting our wills at the moment and one of the areas we’re looking into is setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney should one of us become incapacitated.

We’ve been quoted approx £600 (for both of us) plus OPG registration fees, however it appears the process can be completed quickly and easily online which would save us £600...

When we went back to the solicitor to cancel they told us to be careful as we might sign or put the date in the wrong place etc

Does anyone know whether competing the LPA application online without a solicitor is a reasonable thing to do?

It is very easy to do without a solicitor, in fact my MIL’s cocked it up first time round and I was the person that noticed.

Absolute rubbish! The online system is excellent. I've just done 8 LPA applications (2 each for DM, DF, me and DH). My DM's was returned because they can't read the person authorising fee exemption didn't notice that her name was on the evidence I sent in, but a quick email with a photo of the evidence was enough for them to say 'send it back to us and we'll sort it.'

The signing order is important, but each LPA has a set of instructions. If it's all signed on the same day, then it makes it easier, but if not, the crucial thing is for the certificate provider to witness the donor (the person the LPA is for) sign their section. Then the attorneys can witness each others signatures.

Honestly, don't pay £600. You could get all of the forms completely wrong 4 times and still be in profit! (They charge £41 for refiling if you get it wrong).

After you do the forms, you can put the dates in that each section was signed, and it will tell you if you got it right before you send it. If you use the online service, if you muck up a page, you can just reprint that page.

I did my MILs a few years ago and it was very simple. The official online help was very straightforward. You just need to triple check everything is done correctly and in the right order.

My DM and MIL have nothing got them done - I filled out the forms online with them, it’s easy on an iPad, then printed the forms off, arranged for the signatures to be done and posted them off. They both did the financial and health ones. One of MILs came back as incorrectly signed, they told us where it was wrong, we re-signed it and returned it. This cost a little more, but I think in total it was around £200 with the error. (for both types)
The solicitor is talking bollocks I’m afraid.

Here’s the form www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-lasting-power-of-attorney

Dont bother.with a solicitor. If you are.worried.about.doing.it.online.you can.ring the.opg and get.paper.copies to complete which come with a easy to understand guide

My Brother and I did both LPAs for our Dad 2 years ago. We obtained all the forms on line from Government site printed them off then sent them , with a fee, I think it was £85 for each LPA. Never spoke with a solicitor. You do have to read forms and guide carefully but we had no problems at all with process and it was very quick in total(4 weeks)

Thanks very much for the replies! We shall do it ourselves in this case!

Register them straight away. Then if there are any problems they will come to light during the registration process. (You dont have to use them or tell anyone you have them until you want/need to). Also, solicitors often tell people not to bother with the health and welfare one because doctors won't take any notice of them. Several of my friends had this advice. But in my family's experience it isn't true and anyway, its health AND welfare, so not just for dealing with doctors.