[English] - [Cymraeg]
At OPG, we receive a large number of lasting power of attorney (LPA) forms from solicitors on behalf of their clients. Around 15% of these have errors of various kinds
You can help avoid making mistakes on your client’s LPA, by checking for the following errors:
1.Using the wrong form
As there are two types of LPA, many people accidentally use the wrong one. A lot of people use the health and welfare form, when they meant to use the property and finance form. Another common mistake is using an out of date version of the LPA forms or mixing both types of LPA applications up.
2. Forgetting your client’s name
Half way through the application you may forget who the client is, who the certificate provider is and who the witness is (you). You may even sign the form where the client is supposed to. It’s essential to get someone to check over the forms before sending them to OPG,
You can avoid making mistakes such as these by using the online LPA tool. It’s designed to cut out repetition and will prompt you if something seems wrong.
3. Being vague on life sustaining treatment
This isn’t just a tick box on the health and welfare form, it’s a matter of life and death. This page is treated very seriously by Parliament, the Courts and doctors. If your client wants to allow their attorney to make these decisions and you get it wrong, it automatically defaults to the attorney not having any power. We can’t make any exceptions.
To avoid this, make sure the correct box is ticked, it’s signed and filled in correctly. Don’t contradict it later by an instruction to do the opposite.
4. Making the unlawful compulsory
If we consider a part of the form to contain something unlawful, we have a statutory duty to seek guidance from the Court of Protection. This won’t always invalidate your LPA, but it will slow it down
We may ask the Court to sever the offending words, after asking for the donor’s consent. The common things we apply to sever or will refuse to register are:
- instructions to assist with suicide or criminal activity
- instructions in a property and finance LPA that relate to health and welfare and vice versa (we appreciate that sometimes there is an overlap)
- instructions to follow the decision of someone else who isn’t an attorney.
5. Don't contradict instructions
One of the things that can make any legal document unworkable (if not invalid) is contradiction; saying ‘Do A’ on page one, and ‘Don’t do A’ on page 2. This commonly happens in appointment types, by
- appointing joint and several attorneys, then instructing them all to make decisions. You need to appoint joint for some, joint and several for other decisions
- appointing jointly, but saying later that one has a casting vote, they can decide by majority or have different powers
- appointing jointly or joint and several, but saying later that only one attorney can deal with business affairs. Your client needs two LPAs.
6. Missing pages out
Have you checked the numbering and made sure all your pages are there? It doesn’t help us if you bind pages together; we still have to take it apart to scan.
7. Signing the form in the wrong order
It says on the form who has to sign it first then who next. Try not to get the dates wrong. Please don’t sign the application page saying everything has been signed before it’s actually been signed. It’s a criminal offence to make a false statement on an LPA application form.
8. A few signatures short of a deed
For a document to be a deed, it has to be signed and witnessed. For LPAs there are additional procedures, like having a certificate provider and needing to register the document before it can be used. If signatures or details (like witness names) are missing that make it legally invalid and we won’t be able to register it.
9. Using pencil or Tippex
If you use pencil or Tippex, we can’t tell how (or whether) it has been amended, and who did it. Applications with pencil or Tippex amends will not be registered. Please use ink and witness any amendments in the traditional way.
10. Don’t ask us
Of course you can ask us! We can help answer any queries, especially if your client wants something unusual.
For general queries or to raise a concern please use: customerservices@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk or safeguardingunit@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk
[English] - [Cymraeg]
Deg camgymeriad cyffredin sy’n cael eu gwneud wrth lunio Atwrneiaeth Arhosol
Yn Swyddfa'r Gwarcheidwad Cyhoeddus, rydym yn derbyn nifer fawr o ffurflenni atwrneiaeth arhosol oddi wrth gyfreithwyr ar ran eu clieientiaid. Bydd tua 15% o'r ffurflenni hyn yn cynnwys camgymeriadau amrywiol.
Gallwch osgoi gwneud camgymeriadau ar atwrneiaeth arhosol eich cleient, drwy gadw golwg am y camgymeriadau canlynol:
1. Defnyddio’r ffurflen anghywir
Gan fod dau fath o atwrneiaeth arhosol ar gael, mae llawer yn defnyddio’r un anghywir yn ddamweiniol. Mae llawer o bobl yn defnyddio’r ffurflen iechyd a lles, pan ddylent fod yn defnyddio'r ffurflen eiddo a materion ariannol. Camgymeriad arall yw defnyddio hen fersiwn o’r ffurflenni atwrneiaeth arhosol neu gymysgu rhwng y ddau fath.
2. Anghofio enw’ch cleient
Hanner ffordd drwy’r cais, efallai y byddwch yn anghofio pwy yw eich cleient, pwy yw darparwr y dystysgrif a phwy yw’r tyst (chi). Efallai y byddwch yn llofnodi’r ffurflen hyd yn oed pan mai’r cleient ddylai fod yn gwneud hynny. Mae’n hollbwysig cael rhywun i wirio'r ffurflenni cyn eu hanfon at Swyddfa'r Gwarcheidwad Cyhoeddus.
Gallwch osgoi gwneud camgymeriadau fel y rhain drwy ddefnyddio’r teclyn atwrneiaeth arhosol (LPA) ar-lein. Bwriad y teclyn hwn yw osgoi dyblygu a bydd neges yn ymddangos os oes rhywbeth fel petai o’i le.
3. Bod yn amwys am driniaeth cynnal bywyd
Nid dim ond blwch ticio ar y ffurflen iechyd a lles yw hwn, mae’n fater o fywyd a marwolaeth. Mae’r Senedd, y Llysoedd a meddygon yn rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol iawn i'r dudalen hon. Os ydy’ch cleient am ganiatáu i’w atwrnai wneud y penderfyniadau hyn a chithau wedi cael y manylion yn anghywir, mae'n awtomatig yn golygu nad oes gan yr atwrnai unrhyw bŵer. Ni allwn ni wneud eithriadau.
I osgoi hyn, gwnewch yn siŵr fod y blwch cywir yn cael ei dicio, yn cael ei lofnodi ac yn cael ei lenwi'n gywir. Peidiwch â gwrth-ddweud hyn yn ddiweddarach drwy gyfarwyddyd i wneud y gwrthwyneb.
4. Gwneud yr anghyfreithlon yn orfodol
Os teimlwn fod rhan o’r ffurflen yn cynnwys rhywbeth anghyfreithlon, mae gennym ddyletswydd statudol i ofyn am gyngor gan y Llys Gwarchod. Ni fydd hyn yn annilysu’ch atwrneiaeth arhosol bob tro ond bydd yn arafu'r broses.
Efallai y byddwn yn gofyn i'r Llys ddileu’r geiriau tramgwyddus, ar ôl gofyn am ganiatâd y rhoddwr. Dyma'r pethau cyffredin y byddwn yn gwneud cais i’w dileu neu y byddwn yn gwrthod eu cofrestru:
- cyfarwyddiadau yn dweud wrth atwrneiod am wneud rhoddion nad ydynt yn cydymffurfio ag Adran 12 o Ddeddf Galluedd Meddyliol 2005. Dim ond y Llys sy’n gallu awdurdodi’r rhain
- cyfarwyddiadau i helpu gyda hunanladdiad neu weithgarwch troseddol
- cyfarwyddiadau mewn atwrneiaeth arhosol eiddo a materion ariannol sy’n ymwneud ag iechyd a diogelwch ac fel arall (rydym yn gwerthfawrogi y bydd gorgyffwrdd weithiau)
- cyfarwyddiadau i ddilyn penderfyniad rhywun arall nad yw’n atwrnai.
5. Dweud rhywbeth i’r gwrthwyneb
Un o'r pethau sy’n gallu gwneud unrhyw ddogfen gyfreithiol yn ddogfen na ellir ei gweithredu (ac yn annilys hyd yn oed) yw dweud rhywbeth sy’n groes i rywbeth sy’n cael ei ddweud mewn man arall; dweud ‘Gwnewch A’ ar dudalen un a ‘Peidiwch â gwneud A’ ar dudalen 2. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy’n digwydd yn gyffredin gyda'r mathau o benodiadau a wneir, drwy
• benodi atwrneiod ar y cyd ac yn unigol, ac wedyn cyfarwyddo pob un ohonynt i wneud penderfyniadau. Mae angen i chi benodi ar y cyd ar gyfer rhai penderfyniadau, ac ar y cyd ac yn unigol ar gyfer penderfyniadau eraill
• penodi ar y cyd, ond yn dweud yn ddiweddarach fod gan un bleidlais fwrw, y gallant benderfynu drwy fwyafrif neu bod ganddynt bwerau gwahanol
• penodi ar y cyd neu ar y cyd ac yn unigol, ond yn dweud yn ddiweddarach mai dim ond un atwrnai sy’n gallu delio â materion busnes. Mae eich cleient angen dwy atwrneiaeth arhosol.
6. Peidio â chynnwys yr holl dudalennau
Ydych chi wedi gwirio rhifau'r tudalennau ac wedi gwneud yn siŵr fod yr holl dudalennau yno? Nid yw rhwymo tudalennau yn ein helpu ni. Mae’n rhaid i ni eu gwahanu i’w sganio.
7. Llofnodi'r ffurflen yn y drefn anghywir
Mae’n dweud ar y ffurflen pwy sy’n gorfod ei llofnodi gyntaf ac wedyn pwy nesaf. Ceisiwch beidio â chael y dyddiadau’n anghywir. Peidiwch â llofnodi tudalen y cais yn dweud bod popeth wedi cael ei lofnodi cyn y mae'r llofnodi wedi digwydd. Mae’n drosedd gwneud datganiad anwir ar ffurflen gwneud cais am atwrneiaeth arhosol.
8. Dim digon o lofnodion i fod yn weithred
Er mwyn i ddogfen fod yn weithred, rhaid iddi gael ei llofnodi a rhaid cael tyst. Ar gyfer Atwrneiaethau Arhosol mae gweithdrefnau ychwanegol i’w dilyn, fel cael darparwr tystysgrif a’r angen i gofrestru’r ddogfen cyn y gellir ei defnyddio. Os oes llofnodion neu fanylion (fel enwau tystion) ar goll sy’n ei gwneud yn annilys yn gyfreithiol, ni fyddwn yn gallu cofrestru'r ddogfen.
9. Defnyddio pensil neu Tippex
Os byddwch yn defnyddio pensil neu Tippex, ni allwn ddweud sut y mae wedi cael ei newid (neu a yw wedi cael ei newid), a phwy wnaeth hynny. Ni fydd ceisiadau sy'n cynnwys newidiadau mewn pensil neu Tippex yn cael eu cofrestru. Defnyddiwch inc a thystio i unrhyw newidiadau yn y ffordd draddodiadol.
10. Peidiwch â gofyn i ni
Wrth gwrs y gallwch ofyn i ni! Gallwn ddweud wrthych a yw’r hyn rydych wedi’i ddrafftio yn golygu y byddwn am ddileu neu wrthod cofrestru eich atwrneiaeth arhosol, yn enwedig os ydy’ch cleient eisiau rhywbeth anarferol.
Ar gyfer ymholiadau cyffredinol neu i leisio pryder defnyddiwch y canlynol: customerservices@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk neu safeguardingunit@publicguardian.gsi.gov.uk
19 comments
Comment by Robert Fisher posted on
My experience is below.
With a small family and friend circle I have limited access to the main participants of assorted attornies, and witnesses who can participate in the LPA process.
With a combination of aid in England and Scotland I submitted both Financial and Health LPA in February. I received the FPA in March for my additional signature. Fair enough.
I have just received, in May, my entire 16 page signed and typed Health LP.A rejected because the section 10 Certificate provider had dated but not completed or signed the other elements of the page.
The accompanying letter states that legally this renders the whole L.P.A. invalid. I fail to see how the completion of this standalone page verifying mental competence subsequent to the implications being explained to me negates the entire document and subjects myself and others to the inconvenience of now completing a new enclosed 16 page set and, incidentally paying £41 for the privilege.
The form is date stamped 27 th March with my £220 (cashed 3rd April) cheque amount crossed through and £110 written in. No receipt for my other £110 .
The website explains this organisation is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. When taken with the warning not to 'rant ' and the absence of a complaints department, I would guess this is a private organisation whose profits have led to a fee reduction, unfortunately too late in my case.
The level of these fees and penalties on elderly people,at a stage of getting their late life affairs in order is disgraceful.
But one must not complain because clearly this is meant to be construed as a rant and suppressed.
I would be interested in the provision of chapter and the exact legal verse in the common ( from website ) Certificate provider omission. I wish to add this information more widely to the ' Dying Matters Awareness Week' discourse in the national media under the subtitle
( ......and what you will have to pay to achieve this )
I can see no detriment to providing this 1 page as a blank for revision and attachment to the other 15 pages, although this would
eliminate the , of course, entirely legally necessary, £41 penalty.
.
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Robert
Please find attached details of our complaints department if you would like to raise a formal complaint about your experience.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian/about/complaints-procedure
Comment by William Stewart posted on
Getting a lasting power of attorney is not easy.
http://mjrsolicitors.co.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney/
It involves a lot of paperwork and laws to consider. Committing even a single mistake could mess up the LPA big time. Thank you for sharing these guidelines so we can avoid them in the future.
Comment by Sue O'Malley posted on
Can a sibling receive £3,000 each a year as a gift from your Mother. Are you also aloud to give gifts to Grandsons of £20.00 for their birthdays and Christmas
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Sue
Thanks for your question. Please take a look at our gifting guidance which should answer your question.
If you require further assistance please give our contact centre a call on 0300 456 0300.
Kind regards
Caroline
Comment by Carolyn Bailey posted on
Hi we have LPA for our mother. Are we able to use it in Spain where she has a property and a bank account?
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi, thanks for your question. Please contact our call centre who will be able to assist with this matter. The number is 0300 456 0300.
Kind regards
Caroline
Comment by tracey cahill posted on
should the certificate provider the same person as the witness ?
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Tracey,
Please find guidance about certificate providers in the link below.
https://www.lastingpowerofattorney.service.gov.uk/home#/guide/topic-certificate-providers
Thanks
Caroline
Comment by Phil T posted on
I've made a mistake on one of the attorney's email address, should we manually correct the mistake or start new LPA's and wait for the old ones to lapse/be refunded?
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
The best thing to do is call our contact centre on 0300 456 0300. They'll be able to advise what to do depending on where the LPA is in the registration process.
Comment by Anne Bowen posted on
My mother placed the restriction that the LPA cannot be used until she lacked mental capacity to effectively manage her property and financial affairs. Sadly this time has come but I am unsure how to now begin to use it.
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Anne
A doctor or other medical professional will need to confirm your mother has lost mental capacity. Once this is done you can start using the LPA. Please take a look at this page for further information - https://www.gov.uk/lasting-power-attorney-duties/start-using-power
https://www.lastingpowerofattorney.service.gov.uk/home#/guide/topic-when-an-lpa-can-be-used
Comment by Sarah Jones posted on
I was given an LPA which was registered with the Office of the Public Guardian on behalf of my mother. At no time was I ever consulted as to the nature and responsibilities of the document. Indeed the Legal Exec who drew the document up knew that I never attended any of the meetings. I was not present and not given any information whatsoever. I am astounded that this can happen. I was merely asked to sign the document and not provided with any information at all.
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Sarah
Thanks for your message. Please see details of our complaints procedure to take this further - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian/about/complaints-procedure
Comment by Les Harrison posted on
Hi, on section 5 of the Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare the witness has signed Option B - I do not give my attorneys authority instead of the Witness box , the form hasnt been dated can I put a line through the mistake and get the witness to sign the witness box .
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi Les
Thanks for your query. Please call our contact centre on 0300 456 0300 who will be able to assist you further.
Comment by J Schofield posted on
Hi
The donor is currently in a care home and is quite frail and so is unable to sign the forms. They have full capacity, though. I just wondered who can or can't sign the forms for her. We're a bit stuck on that part at the moment. Thanks.
Comment by Caroline Amos posted on
Hi
The following information should help:
Donors who cannot sign or mark: Continuation sheet 3
If you can’t sign or make a mark, someone can sign for you using Continuation sheet 3.
You must be present and must tell the person to sign.
That person’s signature must be witnessed by two people. The two witnesses can’t be:
•under 18
•your attorneys
•your replacement attorneys
•employees of a trust corporation that that is your attorney or replacement attorney (LPA for financial decisions only)
Further guidance can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-lasting-power-of-attorney/lp12-make-and-register-your-lasting-power-of-attorney-a-guide-web-version#donorsmark