Would you need to consult a solicitor if one wanted to give a close relative Power of Attorney
i am considering doing this in the future and don't know the first thing about it.
the link says about attorneys, how do i do it off my own back, i would like to draft a form/letter to entitle my brother to have POA in case any thing happens to me, to save him having any hassle from a legal standpoint, as i have seen first hand what a mess it can be
you could simply write a letter outlining your wishes but that could be legally challenged if any such circumstances were to arise...concerning your personal care and finances..the Office of the Public Guardian could take matters in hand
Look at the link that murraymints suggested and then give it a try; you have nothing to lose only your time. You can fill-in the form online, saving it as you go along, so you can take as long as you like over it. If you get really stuck you can then resort to legal help but, the chances are, you'll be able to do it. Only when you've got it all done do you have to send it away with a payment to get it authorised, so trying to do it yourself is totally free.
Yes, I filled it all in online using the link in murray's first post. The guide notes are very thorough and the staff are excellent should you need to phone the Office of Public Guardians.
Most importantly, though, why do you want to create a PoA? What do you hope to achieve by doing so? By the way, if you do it yourself it costs £82 for each one - the one dealing with finance and the one that deals with your health and wellbeing
I would recommend you do it sooner rather than later - it doesn't have to become effective until you decide the time is right, or circumstances dictate but you have to be 'of sound mind' to set them up.
It goes without saying that you must be able to trust your attorney with your money and your life :)
I did one purely for finances (Enduring P of A?) before the new system came in. It only needs to be registered if it becomes necessary for the attorney (my niece) to act.