April 22nd - National Lasting Power of Attorney Day!
Today marks the very first National Lasting Power of Attorney Day, a UK-wide initiative created by Carers UK in partnership with Standard Life. Its aim is simple: to encourage more people to understand and put in place Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).
For many families, LPAs sit on the ‘important but not urgent’ list. They are often something people intend to organise but delay, usually because everything feels fine.
However, an LPA can be one of the most important documents you ever put in place.
It allows you to appoint trusted individuals, known as attorneys, to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the ability to do so yourself. There are two types: one covering financial & property matters, and another covering health & welfare decisions.
Without an LPA, families can face a much more complicated and expensive process if they need to step in and help manage affairs. This can add stress at an already difficult time.
But while LPA Day shines a spotlight on this important area, it also highlights something broader. For many people, putting an LPA in place is the moment they begin to think more widely about their planning.
Questions often follow:
Is my Will still suitable?
How are my assets structured?
Have I joined everything together properly?
Would my family know what to do?
Estate planning is not just about individual documents. It’s about making sure the right people can make the right decisions at the right time - and that everything works together.
At Harold Stephens, we support clients with both financial and legal aspects of planning. As SOLLA (Society of Later Life Advisers) accredited advisers, we specialise in later life planning, including guidance around LPAs, care considerations and wider estate planning.
We also offer legal services such as Wills and trusts, allowing everything to be reviewed in one place.
For many people, the biggest benefit is not complexity, but clarity - knowing that plans are properly organised and aligned.
To help people take the first step, we are running a series of free estate planning seminars in June and July, where we will explain how LPAs, Wills, trusts and financial planning can work together.
If you’ve been meaning to get organised, today is a good reminder to start.
Get in touch if you would like to know more about our upcoming seminars or if you would like to arrange a relaxed chat about your next steps. Call 0117 3636 212 or email office@haroldstephens.co.uk