Take control of your affairs by giving enduring power of attorney

Who will make your most important decisions if you’re unable to make them for yourself? If you want it to be a trusted friend, relative or professional, you need to give that person enduring power of attorney.

Our knowledgeable power of attorney solicitors will help you to ensure that your property and finances are always in the hands of those you trust most.

Discuss enduring power of attorney

Why do you need to make an enduring power of attorney?

Making an enduring power of attorney gives you peace of mind that your affairs will be taken care of when you’re mentally incapable of looking after them for yourself.

This isn’t only a consideration for older age. Mental incapacity can happen to anyone at any time through illness or accident. With an enduring power of attorney in place, you know exactly who will be protecting your best interests.

Making your wishes known through an enduring power of attorney also helps your loved ones. If you don’t appoint an attorney, they will have to start a time-consuming and expensive legal process to be able to control your affairs.

What is the process for making an enduring power of attorney in Northern Ireland?

Anyone aged 18 or over and mentally capable of understanding the situation can make an enduring power of attorney in Northern Ireland. Our recommended enduring power of attorney process is:

1. Get free power of attorney advice

There are serious legal considerations when making an enduring power of attorney. Book a free consultation to discuss all of these matters with our power of attorney solicitors.

2. Choosing your attorney

A crucial step is choosing the right attorney or attorneys to manage your affairs. This also means checking they are happy to take on that responsibility. We will talk you through all the things you need to think about.

3. Completing the power of attorney paperwork

Although the power of attorney form is available to anyone, the legal complexities involved mean it is sensible to get professional advice from a power of attorney solicitor. We will complete all the relevant paperwork to ensure it matches your wishes.

4. Signing the enduring power of attorney

First you and then your attorney will need to sign the EPA form. This must be done in the presence of a witness, which can’t be you or another attorney.

5. Keeping the original EPA safe

Our power of attorney solicitors are happy to store the original enduring power of attorney form safely until it is needed. This ensures all parties know exactly where it is when they need it.

6. Registering the enduring power of attorney

If you become mentally incapable of managing your affairs, we can help your attorney to register the enduring power of attorney with the Office of Care and Protection (OCP). The OCP is part of the High Court.

Your attorney must notify you and specific close relatives that they are registering an EPA. If there are no objections, your attorney will get control of your affairs as detailed in the legal paperwork.

How our power of attorney solicitors help you

Giving someone the power to control your affairs is not something you do lightly. It needs careful legal consideration. Our power of attorney solicitors have extensive experience in creating these important legal documents.

Some of the key considerations we will help with include:

Appointing an attorney

We will advise you on all of the key factors and legal ramifications of appointing an attorney.  You can use our legal expertise to guide you towards the right decision for your circumstances.

Limiting an attorney’s power

You don’t have to give an attorney the power to control all your affairs. We can help you limit their power so that the enduring power of attorney works in the way you want it to. For example, you may want your attorney to be able to manage your money but not have the power to sell your home.

Timing an attorney’s power

The enduring power of attorney will come into effect as soon as your chosen attorney signs the paperwork. There might be reasons that you want to include restrictions on why and when the power of attorney can be registered. If so, we can help you put the appropriate conditions into the legal document.

Why choose H McPartland & Sons as your enduring power of attorney solicitors?

We’ve been helping our local communities in Lisburn and Lurgan to take care of their affairs since 1949. In that time, our power of attorney solicitors have guided many people towards making an enduring power of attorney that protects their interests.

Equally, we’ve also helped many families to take control of a loved one’s finances and property, often when they’re already going through a stressful or distressing time. We’ll use all of that experience to create a legal document that gives peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

We’re happy to talk through your wishes in a free initial consultation. Come to see us at our offices in Lurgan or Lisburn to discuss your circumstances with our power of attorney solicitors. Both offices have convenient car parking. If you prefer, you can also book a home visit or phone consultation.