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Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)

Every day we change the lives of our LPA clients by helping them to decide who will make decisions on their behalf should they become unable to do so themselves.

You may have already considered how your Will deals with your estate after death, but have you thought about what would happen should you be unable to manage your own affairs and make decisions about your care during your lifetime? This situation can arise due to physical or mental incapacity, no matter what age you are.

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LPA

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document which gives a person or persons who are appointed by you, the power and authority to make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. There are two types of LPA:

Property and Financial Affairs LPA

This LPA allows your Attorney to make decisions about your money and property; for example, paying bills, receiving income, or buying and selling a house.

Health and Welfare LPA

This LPA enables your Attorney to make decisions about your care and wellbeing when you are unable to do so yourself. You may also give them the power to accept or refuse life-sustaining treatment on your behalf.

When making an LPA you have full control over what powers you wish your Attorney to have. You can choose to make one or both types of LPA, using the same or different Attorneys.

When making your LPA, there are a lot of important decisions with many different implications that you need to consider. We will guide you through the decision-making process before the LPA is finalised and registered. Our services also include acting as a Professional Attorney for you if you do not wish to appoint a friend or relative to do so.

Speak to our experts

For a FREE initial consultation with our LPA specialists, simply complete the form on this page, call 01244 356 789 or email info@cullimoredutton.co.uk.

When family members and loved ones no longer have the mental capacity required to set up an LPA or to make important decisions regarding their finances you may need to consider making an application to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order.

Court of Protection & Deputyship

If an individual has not prepared LPAs before losing capacity, the Court of Protection is the judicial body responsible for making decisions relating to the management of finances and other affairs of those individuals who lack the mental capacity to do so themselves. The Court makes decisions relating to the property, finances and welfare of people who lack mental capacity and can delegate some of its authority by appointing a Deputy to deal with the person’s finances and personal welfare on their behalf.

What is a Deputy?

A Deputy is the person appointed by the Court of Protection to make decisions on behalf of the person who lacks mental capacity. There are two types of Deputy:
1) Property and Financial Affairs: e.g. paying bills, organizing a pension.
2) Personal Welfare: e.g., decisions about medical treatment or where someone lives.

As specialists in Court of Protection matters, we can assist you with dealing with a Court of Protection application. We will explain the options and guide you through the process, helping you to apply to have a Deputy appointed (we can act as a professional Deputy for a friend or relative who lacks capacity) and/or helping an existing Deputy make applications to the Court of Protection (e.g., for gifts, statutory wills, and property transactions) where necessary.

Speak to our experts

For a FREE initial consultation with our LPA specialists, simply complete the form on this page, call 01244 356 789 or email info@cullimoredutton.co.uk.

Why choose us for your Lasting Power of Attorney? Because we are:

Experienced

Our team has more than 70 years’ experience of helping, supporting, and advising clients on their Wills, LPAs, Trusts, Tax and Estates.

Specialists

Our team are all specialists in this area of law and are either qualified members or working towards membership of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

Understanding

We understand the importance of delivering a considerate and approachable service when dealing with sensitive matters at what can often be a difficult time.

Who will work on your LPA matter?

A fully qualified lawyer. Your matter will either be handled or supervised by a solicitor with at least 10 years’ experience in this area of work.

Some areas of work may be supported by our Paralegal team.

Administrative duties will be undertaken by our support staff.

As Head of Private Client, Adele Bebbington-Plant has overall responsibility for the supervision of all work carried out by her team.

Our Wills & Probate Department

Georgina Roberts

Solicitor
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2013
Additional Qualifications: Full member of Solicitors for the Elderly
Contact
/ , , / /by

Hello. I joined Cullimore Dutton in September 2023 where I am part of the Wills, Trusts, and Estates team.

I grew up in West Kirby on the Wirral and completed my Law Degree and Legal Practice Course at the University of Sheffield.

I was really excited to join Cullimore Dutton and I’m enjoying getting to know the rest of the team and the clients – everyone has been so welcoming so far.

Private Client is an interesting area of the law and I really enjoy helping people at what can sometimes be a difficult and stressful time of their lives. I’m also a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly, which means I’m trained to work with older and more vulnerable clients.

Outside of work, I love eating out with my husband and I try to go running three times a week in order to counter this!  I also enjoy spending time with friends and my two cats.

I specialise in all aspects of Private Client work and have expertise in:

  • The creation of Wills
  • Trusts and inheritance tax planning
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Administration of Estates
  • Court of Protection work
Louise Holmes​, Cullimore Dutton Wills, Trusts & Estates

Louise Holmes​

Solicitor | Legal Director | Head of Wills & Probate
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2011
Additional Qualifications: Full member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Qualified 2017), Member of Solicitors for the Elderly (Qualified 2019)
Contact
/ , / /by

Hello, I joined Cullimore Dutton Solicitors in June 2022 as an Legal Director and a Solicitor in the Wills & Probate Department. I was delighted to take on the role of Head of Wills & Probate in July 2023

I qualified as a Solicitor in 2011 and have over 10 years of experience working in wills, trusts, probate and the administration of estates.

I am a fully qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) which ensures that I have the skills and expertise to deal with complex trust and estate matters and provide highly specialised advice in these areas. I am also a fully accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).

I specialise in all aspects of Private Client work and have expertise in:

  • The creation of Wills
  • Trusts and inheritance tax planning
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Administration of estates

Outside of work my 3 children keep me busy!

Kainat Jones

Kainat Jones

Solicitor
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2021
Contact
/ , / /by

Hello, I qualified as a Solicitor in 2021 and worked in a North Wales solicitors practice for a year before joining Cullimore Dutton in January 2022.

Originally from North Wales, I graduated from Bangor University with a Law degree before completing my Legal Practice Course (LPC) alongside a Master of Law from the University of Law, Chester.

I am delighted to be a member in our Wills & Probate Team and take pride in supporting our clients through a variety of private client work, including administering estates, drafting wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Outside of work, I enjoy baking, up-cycling furniture and spending time with my family, I am also a fluent Welsh-speaker.

Sarah Gill

Sarah Gill

Senior Paralegal
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2015 (Paralegal Practice Qualification in Wills, Probate and Administration)
Additional Qualifications: Dementia Friends training (2018)
Contact
/ , / /by

Hello, I joined Cullimore Dutton’s Wills & Probate Team in January 2017 as a paralegal having worked in the Wrexham and Chester offices of Slater and Gordon (formerly Walker Smith Way) for the previous 10 years. In 2015 I completed a Specialist Paralegal Qualification in Wills, Probate and Administration through the University of Strathclyde. 

I specialise in wills, powers of attorney, estate administration, registration of enduring powers of attorney and assisting professional attorneys.

Outside of work, I enjoy growing my own fruit and vegetables, baking and trail running.

Phil Appleby

Philip Appleby

Legal Director TEP
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2009
Additional Qualifications: Full member of STEP (Qualified 2013), Dementia Friends training (2018)
Contact
/ , / /by

Hello, I qualified as a Solicitor in 2009, working in Manchester for several years before relocating to Chester. 

Prior to joining Cullimore Dutton I was Team Leader for Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate at Slater and Gordon’s, (formerly Walker Smith Way’s) Chester, Wrexham and Preston Offices. I am an now a Legal Director working within the company’s Wills & Probate Team and specialise in all aspects of private client work, with a particular focus on administering estates and trusts. 

I am a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). 

Adele Bebbington Plant

Adele Bebbington-Plant

Solicitor | Director | Head of Private Client
Wills & Probate Team
Qualified 2007
Additional Qualifications: Dementia Friends training (2018)
Contact
/ , , / /by

Hello, I joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in 2005, after gaining a distinction in the Legal Practice Course at Chester College of Law. On qualification, I became a member of our well-respected Wills & Probate Team.

In 2020 I was appointed as Head of Department and in February 2021 I was delighted to take on the role of Director joining our senior management team. As Head of Department, I have overall responsibility for the supervision of all work carried out by my team.

I advise on all aspects of private client work, including wills, inheritance tax planning, planning for care home fees, asset protection, probate and estate administration. I also deal with Court of protection work. This includes making Deputyship applications and advising on the preparation, registration and use of Lasting Powers of Attorney and Enduring Powers of Attorney.

I also advise clients on trust creation and administration including the administration of charitable trusts.

Outside work, I enjoy life with my husband and three children. My interests are music and travel.

Thank you for your email. It was very kind of you. It is I however, who should be thanking you for all your hard work and determination to arrive at the right result. It has saved me a lot of anxiety. I know for sure that if I ever need legal advice again, I will be knocking on your door!

Cullimore Dutton Wills & Probate client

We’d like to express our thanks for the way that you have professionally and sympathetically handled this on our behalf, and we wish you well for the future.

Cullimore Dutton Wills & Probate client

 
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