Few of us want to think that we might lose our mental capacity or how we would cope if we did. Yet it can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time either through accident, a stroke or an illness such as Dementia. The number of people suffering from this is forecast to exceed one million by 2025 (Alzheimer’s Society).

Yet there is a way to plan ahead and ease the potential burden on your family and friends should it happen to you. The answer is to create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). A LPA gives people you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf should you lose the mental capacity to do so. The crucial thing is to set up an LPA while you are still mentally capable.

f you lose mental capacity and don’t have a LPA the Court of Protection takes over and the people you would have liked to help you may be cut out. They can then face long delays and a huge expense in applying to the Court if they want to help look after you. By preparing this document whilst you have mental capacity, it could save thousands should that capacity ever be lost.