Power of attorney

A power of attorney is a written document, usually drawn up by a solicitor, which gives the name of the person - the attorney - you would like to help make decisions and take actions on your behalf. More than one person can be named. The attorney should be someone you trust, such as a family member or friend, or your solicitor. The powers the attorney would have are written down along with when he or she would begin acting for you. Attorneys have a duty to keep records of their actions. If you have only one attorney named and he or she is no longer able to act for you, a new power of attorney must be drawn up.

A power of attorney can include decisions about your money and property. This is called a continuing power of attorney. A welfare power of attorney relates to your future health or personal welfare.

Different attorneys can be appointed for each type of power of attorney. A continuing power of attorney can be used to help with financial matters before you are incapable but decisions about your welfare cannot be made until you are no longer able to do so yourself.

Everyone should consider asking a solicitor to prepare a power of attorney. With some people, their capacity to look after their affairs is impaired gradually, for instance, as they grow older. But sudden accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone. A doctor can assess whether or not a person is incapable.

No-one has the right to act on your behalf without your legal authority. That means your family or friends may have to go to court to get permission to make decisions for you.

Solicitors and doctors can charge a fee for helping to draw up a power of attorney and the accompanying certificate of capacity, which confirms that the person understands what they are doing. The power of attorney must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian Scotland before it can be used. A fee is charged for this service. A power of attorney, or any of the powers granted within it, can be cancelled after it has been registered.

Both fulfil the same function - allowing one person to act on behalf of another, to look after their financial and/or welfare matters. The difference is that a power of attorney can only be granted from an individual who can understand and explain their wishes whereas a guardianship applies when a person does not have capacity to make decisions on their own behalf. A guardianship is applied for through the courts (and can take up to six months to be granted) whereas a power of attorney is drawn up by a solicitor. A guardianship is for a fixed period of time (unless a good reason can be shown why it should be longer) whereas a power of attorney stays in force unless revoked by the person granting the power of attorney or death.

Deciding what to do in the future can be complicated so it is important to obtain independent advice from an expert, such as your solicitor.