kezza44 said:
I have received the registered paperwork, all stamped etc for my mum who has Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia. The letter accompanying this mentions certified copies. Can anyone advise whether I need to ask my Mum to sign and date copies now or is it when you actually want to 'activate' it and take on power of attorney when the time comes? I completed both sets of forms myself, but I am a little confused as to when to certify and what it is for?
I think you may have a couple of things mixed up here.
If you have received the registered paperwork, stamped etc, then I assume you have already sent the completed LPA documents to the Court of Protection. They have presumably accepted the forms and now the LPA is active. By 'activate' I assume you mean 'put it into operation', but I think the LPA is already active.
It used to be that you could ask for the CoP to send certified copies back with the original, to be used for banks etc, but that has now changed. Copies can be made under the donor's [person who is the subject of the LPA] signature, or a solicitor can be used.
I think it is advisable to have 2-3 copies made, in case the original is damaged or lost, and sometimes a power of attorney had to be posted away, and the original should not really be used in that way.
We are awaiting the results of sending a completed LPA to the CoP. I completed it, and, while it is something that needs to be done meticulously, it isn't rocket science. I know of someone who is facing a £2000-£3000 solicitor's bill for doing the same thing, which seems to me scandalous.
However, since we have yet to receive the registered LPA from CoP, time will tell....
I have no legal training, and I know there are some members who are so trained, but these are just my thoughts. I previously operated an Enduring Power of Attorney for my late wife, witnessed by a solicitor. The forms were a doddle in comparison, and it was active for nearly 10 years.