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Has anyone done their will and / or LPA with Which? Would you recommend them?
BTW The delays are very long for registering an LPA. I would only use an excellent solicitor.
We did our own LPAs using the Gov website, Office of the Public Guardian. It took a while but was very straightforward.
I did an LPA last year via government website too. Easy. No need for costly solicitor. Takes 4 months or so but far as I know solicitors don’t make it faster.
Doing my Will with Which currently. So far taken me 11 months (due to my laziness not Which). But simple process.If you can get a personal recommendation, use them. Otherwise use a solicitor who is a STEP (Society of Trustee and Estate Practioners) member.
I’ve done an intestacy for a family member and it was grim. Pay a little bit more and get it done properly – you WILL die at some point so this is worth getting done properly, it’s not just an insurance policy that will never be used.
LPAs are easy enough to do in theory but do require some thought; there are different strands to do with health and finances, and they often go hand in hand with Advance Decisions and future care plans setting out an individual’s wishes for what they would like to happen in the future (and having seen thngs in action: if you are kind you will set this up rather than leave the appointee with the angst and guilt of wondering if they are doing what you would have wanted). I deal with them occasionally and some are so badly set up that I almost think that everyone would have been better off if they hadn’t bothered; sometimes they contradict each other in the two sections which is worse than having nothing (e.g. poorly written financial and healthcare instructions can block each other, particularly where care costs money). I’d suggest that if a solicitor is doing a will anyway then getting them to run over a LPA is very worthwhile – a good one will ask pertinent questions that can help clarify thinking and instructions.
Is the LPA digital service much quicker at registering the LPA at the OFG? Any thoughts appreciated. TIA.
Is the LPA digital service much quicker at registering the LPA at the OFG? Any thoughts appreciated. TIA.
No, the time to get the LPA registered is the same. A benefit of completing the initial stages online is that it makes it less likely that there are any glaring errors as the system won’t allow them, so there is effectively a ‘pre-review’ before you get all the relevant signatures for which you need to follow the prescribed procedures very precisely; rejections are frequent.
Thanks @JDB that’s a very good point.
We did our own LPAs using the Gov website, Office of the Public Guardian. It took a while but was very straightforward.
Same here, you need to take care and does take time, but straightforward enough.
With regard to NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, if you disagree with the assessment, is there an appeals process, particularly if the indivudual needing care is worsening quickly? Any thoughts appreciated, thanks in advance.
With regard to NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments, if you disagree with the assessment, is there an appeals process, particularly if the indivudual needing care’s condition is worsening quickly? Any thoughts appreciated, thanks in advance.
Yes, you can appeal to your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) who are the people making the decision. Their appeal procedures will vary by board, but they must have one in place and if you aren’t satisfied with any outcome from that process, you can ask the NHS to carry out an independent review and ultimately appeal to the PHSO. Problem is that these processes are pitifully slow, so realistically a lot of calling and cajoling with support from medical professionals may get much quicker/better results than the official channels.
There is an organisation called Beacon which offers help with these issues –
Thanks @JDB that’s very helpful.
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