Powers of Attorney & Guardianships
Key Contacts
The law governing inheritance and trusts is a hugely complicated area requiring specialist advice.
ACH Shoosmiths' private client team is well versed in the intricacies of this area of law and will ensure that your interests are properly looked after at every stage, be it planning for marriage/co-habitation, investing for children, minimising your tax burden or planning for your retirement.
We provide a personal and sensitive service with advice tailored to your situation.
Powers of Attorney
We recommend to all clients that they should put in place a Power of Attorney to safeguard against a situation where they can no longer make decisions about their finances or their welfare for themselves.
However, Powers of Attorney can only be granted when the granter has full capacity to understand the nature of the powers they are granting in favour of their Attorney.
A Power of Attorney ensures that if you are unable to look after your affairs personally, your Attorney can step in and look after your finances.
We are also experienced in administering clients' affairs under a Power of Attorney, including the maintenance of accurate records and preparing accounts showing income and expenditure.
Guardianships
If someone loses the capacity to make decisions for themselves, and does not have the capacity to grant a Power of Attorney, there is the option to appoint another person as the individual's financial (and possibly welfare) guardian.
The guardianship process is complex and involves obtaining various medical and other reports, a court hearing about the suitability of the appointment of the guardian, then ongoing management of the person's assets by the guardian following their appointment. We've experience in dealing with each stage of the guardianship process, plus the time limits and administrative deadlines imposed by the courts and the Office of the Public Guardian.