Sponsored function | Jacqui Pearce, Woodfine’s attorneys
Jacqui Pearce, Woodfines Attorneys (50201260)
The procedure for applying for a permanent power of attorney is currently predominantly paper-based, with 19 million sheets of paper being received by the Office of the Guardian (OPG) in 2019/20. The inefficiencies resulting from handling such large volumes of documents prompted the OPG to launch a consultation on digitizing the process.
The consultation, which ends on October 13, includes proposals for increased use of technology to accelerate the process.
What are LPAs?
Introduced in 2007, an LPA is a legal document that enables one person (the donor) to give another person or persons (the lawyers) legal authority to make decisions on their behalf in the event that they lose their mental capacity. There are two types of LPA:
- Health and wellbeing
- Real estate and financial affairs
A real estate and financial LPA is valid from registration. A health and welfare LPA not only has the same registration requirements, but can only be used when the donor is unable to make such decisions on their own.
Modernization of permanent powers of attorney
On a blog posted on July 22nd, the OPG stated, “Our goal is to use technology to improve our LPA services without compromising security or restricting access to people who are not online and the start of our consultation is an important next step to make LPAs safer, easier and more sustainable. “
Suggestions for consideration include:
- Change in the rules for witnesses, e.g. B. Use digital methods to support remote testimony or replace the need for a witness with a similar safeguard.
- Improving the application process, including reducing the likelihood of application rejection and introducing ways to digitally save completed LPAs before submitting them for registration.
- Extending the powers of the OPG to carry out more comprehensive controls of LPAs and to take measures to stop or delay registration outside the protective court if those controls have failed or are inconclusive.
- Clarification and streamlining of the processes for objecting to the registration of an LPA and investigating at which point in the process it is best to raise objections.
- Increase service efficiency by reducing the time required to create and register an LPA.
- Investigate whether a new, “urgent” service is required to register LPAs for those who need one quickly.
- Better support lawyers in accessing the service and how best to achieve it.
Part of a major overhaul
The consultation comes after the HMCTS Probate Service went fully online in late 2020 in response to the acceleration of digitization caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The online service, first introduced in 2018, was part of a major overhaul of HMCTS that began in 2016 to modernize what many have called an outdated and inefficient system.
However, the pandemic, combined with the closure of regional estate offices and kinks in the online system, has resulted in significant delays.
What now?
The consultation includes online workshops to study the proposals in August and September. All interested parties are welcome to attend and those who wish to respond can do so on the government website.
In the meantime, our Wills, Trusts & Estates department is available to help our clients create and register an LPA as quickly and efficiently as possible. Call our team on 0344 967 2505 or email [email protected].
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