| People can become unable to manage their own | | | | behalf. Subject to certain important conditions and |
| affairs at any stage of life. An accident, or the | | | | safeguards it continues in force until death, even if |
| onset of mental illness, may make the everyday | | | | you become incapable of looking after yourself. |
| routines of buying and selling a house, paying bills, | | | | What happens if I don't have an EPA? |
| managing a budget and making financial decisions | | | | Without an EPA the Court of Protection will |
| difficult and stressful, if not impossible. By | | | | appoint a Receiver to act on your behalf. This |
| completing an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) | | | | process takes time and is expensive. With an EPA |
| you can ensure that if this should ever happen, | | | | in place there would be no Court of Protection |
| the person you choose to be your representative | | | | charges or solicitor's fees payable and no annual |
| (your Attorney) will look after your affairs. Friends | | | | fees charged by the court. Minimal fees apply to |
| and family do not automatically have the right to | | | | register the EPA. |
| take over. The EPA has been created to ensure | | | | What safeguards are there? |
| that while you are of sound mind you can appoint | | | | When mental capacity is lost the EPA must be |
| someone you trust to look after your affairs. | | | | registered before the Attorney can legally act. |
| What is an Enduring Power of Attorney? | | | | You and your closest relatives will be informed |
| An EPA is a legal document granting to a named | | | | allowing you to intervene with the registration |
| person or people the authority to act on your | | | | should someone try to use the EPA illegally. |