There’s a big drive to encourage people to create a Power of Attorney online, with many financial experts noting that these ‘living wills’ are just as important as, if not more so, actual wills. But are they a simple process? The answer is, it depends!

What Power of Attorney actually is

When people create a Power of Attorney online through a provider such as https://powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/, they register a formal, legal document that captures their wishes for how their finances and/or medical decisions are handled in the event they lose capacity. The Power of Attorney lets a designated ‘agent’ make these important decisions on your behalf.

The process

It’s possible to create a Power of Attorney online using a form, and it can be relatively simple thanks to standard templates. For straightforward POAs, it’s as easy as completing and signing the form and then having it signed by all relevant parties. In many cases, a trusted family member can be appointed as the agent, and the process can be completed quickly.

When delays creep in

Delays and complications do creep in, however, where there are high-value assets involved, questions over mental capacity, or when specific conditions or limitations need to be included. Because the process is a legal one, mistakes in execution or wording can invalidate the whole document. Further, in the UK, the LPA must be registered formally with the Office of the Public Guardian before it is approved.

For this reason, it often makes sense to use a solicitor to make sure everything is done correctly.