Online service to improve Lasting Powers of Attorney

In ensuring that Lasting Powers of Attorney can keep up with an ever modernising world, the Office of the Public Guardian has launched a new online service. 

Appropriately titled “Use a lasting power of attorney service”, the new system makes it easier than ever before to act as an attorney and it rolled out to the public in June 2020.

When your Lasting Power of Attorney is registered – a requirement to use the online service – you will be sent an online activation key and urged to create an online account. Once into your account, you type in your key and a digital copy of the registered LPAs is added to your account.

Thereafter, you can make one-time use access codes as often as you like and send them to any institution who has asked to see the LPA or who you want to inform. They simply click the link you have created and are given visual access to the LPA to note for their records.

The service will now make it easier for attorneys who maybe do not live close to their donors to help and support them and also cuts out a lot of the minutiae of being an attorney – such as visiting every bank or building society with the LPA and then queuing for them to take a copy.

The service has been created with the help of a number of big institutions in the UK such as HSBC UK and the Department for Work and Pensions. It was trialled at length before being opened to the public and seems to have receive near universal praise.

HSBC UK said ““At a time when it’s even more difficult for our customers, or their support network to get into a branch it was crucial that we found solutions. We’re able to authenticate the LPA so we know it’s a genuine document and of course the customer experience is greatly improved.”

It is clear that the onset of Coronavirus around the world has been a catalyst for this advancement but it remains an excellent new step in using Lasting Powers of Attorney and removes some of the practical difficulties in helping your loved ones. 

Please Edward Gill or Nicki Denton-Masih if you would like more information about Lasting Powers of Attorney or any aspect of wills, trusts and probate.