Pinney Talfourd gives presentation to Brentwood FLAG Group
Matthew Edwards, solicitor and head of the Private Client team, recently gave a presentation on Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney to the Brentwood FLAG group, a support group for carers of people suffering with Alzheimer's disease.
The session was well attended and provided carers with a valuable insight into the importance of having a Will and Lasting Power of Attorney and the pitfalls of not having them in place. Matthew commented "The nature of Alzheimer's is that it is progressive illness - symptoms may be mild at the onset of the condition and gradually worsen over time. It is essential that any person diagnosed with Alzheimer's makes a Will immediately as invariably the symptoms worsen to the extent that a person then lacks the requisite mental capacity to instruct a solicitor to prepare a Will for them".
Similarly Matthew strongly recommends a Lasting Power of Attorney is made as soon as possible. This ensures that family members or friends are able to manage the financial affairs of the person affected once the condition is sufficiently advanced that they are unable to cope without help. This avoids the alternative of an expensive and drawn out application to the Court of Protection for the appointment of someone to manage the finances - known as a Deputyship. Matthew said: "The process of a making a Lasting Power of Attorney is simple, and the legal costs involved are insignificant when compared with the costly alternative of a Court of Protection Deputyship".
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