This week is Carers Week which is an annual campaign to raise awareness and highlight the challenges carers face. There are approximately 6.5 million people in the UK who are caring for a friend or family member. It is extremely important that carers also find time to think about themselves.
If you are caring for a loved one, you should consider how things would change if something were to happen to you. If your circumstances have changed as a result of your caring role, then it is important to review your Will to ensure that you have taken into account the needs of your loved ones. You may need to review who you appoint as Executors and Trustees, or it may be appropriate to include a trust in your Will so that your family are both protected and provided for as necessary.
Another legal aspect you should consider are Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). LPAs are documents which can only be made whilst you have mental capacity, in which you appoint people (known as attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf in case of an accident or illness. It is extremely important that careful consideration is given to who you appoint as your attorneys. You can appoint more than one person as your attorney, so that the responsibility can be shared. If possible you should have an open conversation with your proposed attorneys so that they understand your wishes and what their responsibilities will include.
Your attorney may have to make difficult decisions about your health and welfare. If you have specific wishes around your care plans, medical treatment or end of life wishes you should discuss these with your attorneys and make your choices very clear in your LPA.
As with a Will, it is important to make sure that your LPA is updated if your circumstances change.
At BakerLaw, we understand the difficulties that are encountered understanding what you can and can’t do as an attorney and therefore we have launched our Attorney Support Service to help attorneys understand their role and responsibilities. If you would like to know more, please contact the Private Client Department directly on 01252 907829 or email privateclient@baker-law.co.uk.
Our team have a wealth of experience and include members of STEP (www.step.org/about-us) and Solicitors for the Elderly (www.sfe.legal/public/welcome). This means you can have peace of mind that you are dealing with a highly experienced and qualified team who specialise in all matters relating to Private Client, including Wills, Power of Attorneys, Attorney Support Services, Tax Planning, Administration of Estates and Court of Protection related matters.
If you would like to discuss how we may assist you or your family, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our Private Client Department directly on 01252 907829 or email privateclient@baker-law.co.uk. Our team are also happy to speak at carer’s support groups and if you would like to know more please do get in touch.
This article is not a definitive statement of the law. It is designed as a free update on the law at the time of publishing. It is not a substitute for legal advice on specific facts and circumstances. BakerLaw LLP and/or the writer accepts no liability or responsibility for reliance on this article and recommends that you seek independent legal advice on your specific circumstances prior to taking any steps.
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