Choosing someone to make decisions for you

If you don't want to make your own decisions or won't be able to in the future, you can give someone you trust the authority to make decisions for you. This is called a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and is a legal document. It gives you more control over what happens to you, for example, if you have an accident or an illness and can’t make decisions at the time they need to be made. You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA.

There are 2 types of Lasting Power of Attorney:

• Health and welfare - e.g. medical care, where you live and can only be used when you have lost the ability to make decisions
• Property and financial affairs - e.g. paying bills, selling property and can be used when you still have the ability to make decisions

You can choose to make one type or both. You can request details of your income and what has been spent. If you lose capacity, these details can be sent to your solicitor or a family member.