Checklist for Property and Finances Attorneys

When you’re starting out acting as an LPA attorney it’s important to know whether you have the right documents in place.

Here’s a quick Checklist for Property and Finance Attorneys

Checklist

#1  Check the LPA has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian

#2  Make sure there are several certified copies of the registered LPA – you’ll need at least 4

#3  Check if there are restrictions in the LPA in case your authority has been limited by the Donor

#4  If the Donor owns property check the Land Registry Register of Title for details of mortgages and other charges

#5  If the Donor’s property is to be sold and you are a joint owner or trustee of a share of the property held in trust check whether a second trustee needs to be appointed to give a valid receipt for the sale proceeds

#6  Sign up for the Land Registry Property Alert service to get warnings of any suspicious activity relating to the Donor’s property

#7  Keep a spreadsheet of all the Donor’s savings, shares and other investments and weekly expenditure

#8  Notify the Donor’s bank of your appointment and never mix the Donor’s money with your own – ever!

#9  Notify all insurers the Donor has policies with, of your LPA authority, in case a claim becomes necessary.

#10 Contact HMRC and the DWP to advise them of your status as attorney.

You can read more about potential pitfalls in Lasting Powers of Attorney here:

Avoiding problems in Lasting Powers of Attorney

3 ways to get the best from your Lasting Power of Attorney