Making sure you’ve got the right legal paperwork together isn’t just something to think about later in your life. You could suffer an unexpected illness or have an accident at any point in your life. Here are three key documents you should consider getting now.
A valid will
A will sets out how all of your assets, property and personal belongings should be distributed after you die. Without one, estate distribution follows strict legal rules, which may not reflect what you’d actually like to happen. So, creating a will and keeping it up to date will reflect changing relationships, finances and family arrangements.
A property and financial lasting power of attorney
A lasting power of attorney for property and financial matters allows a trusted person to manage finances if your capacity is lost. This may include paying bills, handling bank accounts or selling property. Without this document, relatives may need to apply to the Court of Protection, which can be costly and time-consuming. Some people use services like a Power Of Attorney Online, such as //powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/.
A health and welfare lasting power of attorney
A health and welfare lasting power of attorney basically means someone else can make decisions about medical treatment and care if your capacity is affected. This means choices are made by someone you know and trust, rather than default authorities who don’t know you.
These three documents work really well together. But make sure you keep them up to date so they continue to reflect your personal circumstances and protect your future wellbeing.
