LPA and bank accounts
Discussion
My aunt (dad's sister) is 86, has MS, and has recently moved into a care home.
Bank is bouncing her cheques, as her signature has deteriorated since she broke her previously good arm.
My father had LPA, but he passed away at easter.
We are in the process of setting up LPA, with myself and mum named, my younger sister as replacement.
Mum is also setting up LPA for herself, with me and my sister named, and my youngest sister as replacement.
Both LPAs have been lodged with the Office Of The Public Guardian, and should come into effect in a few weeks.
My aunt has a large debt that needs settling with the local authority, and they have accepted that there's nothing that we can do until we get LPA. Her bank has already returned the cheque that she wrote to settle the debt.
Once we have LPA, what do we actually do so that we can write a cheque on her behalf? Is it possible for mum to maintain aunt's accounts using internet banking? The local branches of both banks that have my aunt's money have closed.
My aunt's financial affairs are a bit messy, to say the least, and we want to straighten everything out. She took advice from others, didn't disclose her savings to DWP or local authority. Big bills for overpaid council tax relief and housing benefit when they found out a couple of years ago.
It looks like she will get another bill soon, as she is well over the threshhold for free care, and will have to pay back several months care costs.
I am also listed as executor on her will, when that time comes. Note that none of my blood relatives will be beneficiaries. She is leaving whatever is left to her late husband's nephew and neice. Fair enough, as most of what she has is courtesy of his pension. She is following his wishes.
Bank is bouncing her cheques, as her signature has deteriorated since she broke her previously good arm.
My father had LPA, but he passed away at easter.
We are in the process of setting up LPA, with myself and mum named, my younger sister as replacement.
Mum is also setting up LPA for herself, with me and my sister named, and my youngest sister as replacement.
Both LPAs have been lodged with the Office Of The Public Guardian, and should come into effect in a few weeks.
My aunt has a large debt that needs settling with the local authority, and they have accepted that there's nothing that we can do until we get LPA. Her bank has already returned the cheque that she wrote to settle the debt.
Once we have LPA, what do we actually do so that we can write a cheque on her behalf? Is it possible for mum to maintain aunt's accounts using internet banking? The local branches of both banks that have my aunt's money have closed.
My aunt's financial affairs are a bit messy, to say the least, and we want to straighten everything out. She took advice from others, didn't disclose her savings to DWP or local authority. Big bills for overpaid council tax relief and housing benefit when they found out a couple of years ago.
It looks like she will get another bill soon, as she is well over the threshhold for free care, and will have to pay back several months care costs.
I am also listed as executor on her will, when that time comes. Note that none of my blood relatives will be beneficiaries. She is leaving whatever is left to her late husband's nephew and neice. Fair enough, as most of what she has is courtesy of his pension. She is following his wishes.
Been through a lot of this over the last year.
You will need to register the LPA with each of the financial institutions so suggest you get some certified copies. After that you will be able to manage her accounts exactly as if they were yours - move money about, write cheques, online banking, the lot.
Some institutions will be MUCH more difficult to deal with than others (yes l mean you HSBC!) and some jobsworths will (in my experience) try to insist that they can only accept the original of the LPA - (a) this is b
ks and (b) not all institutions will return the document so do not let them have the original under any circumstances.
You should also register the LPA with the DWP, any other pension provider, her GP, the nursing home, Social Services and anyone else who impacts upon her life where a decision may have to be made.
Best of luck.
You will need to register the LPA with each of the financial institutions so suggest you get some certified copies. After that you will be able to manage her accounts exactly as if they were yours - move money about, write cheques, online banking, the lot.
Some institutions will be MUCH more difficult to deal with than others (yes l mean you HSBC!) and some jobsworths will (in my experience) try to insist that they can only accept the original of the LPA - (a) this is b
ks and (b) not all institutions will return the document so do not let them have the original under any circumstances.You should also register the LPA with the DWP, any other pension provider, her GP, the nursing home, Social Services and anyone else who impacts upon her life where a decision may have to be made.
Best of luck.
Concur exactly as above.
My sister and I did LPAs for Mum and Dad about 9 months ago, as Mum was declining mentally and Dad physically. Boy, I'm glad we did, as Dad died a month ago.
The bank, solicitor and others have been great - register the LPA with them and it all becomes much easier. With regard to the bank, while the finances remain the individual's, you become a person authorised to operate the account, with all the associated things of a card, cheque book and online banking that are issued/authorised in your name.
Agree completely with not sending the original LPA to anyone - get a couple of copies certified by a solicitor.
My sister and I did LPAs for Mum and Dad about 9 months ago, as Mum was declining mentally and Dad physically. Boy, I'm glad we did, as Dad died a month ago.
The bank, solicitor and others have been great - register the LPA with them and it all becomes much easier. With regard to the bank, while the finances remain the individual's, you become a person authorised to operate the account, with all the associated things of a card, cheque book and online banking that are issued/authorised in your name.
Agree completely with not sending the original LPA to anyone - get a couple of copies certified by a solicitor.
ditto on various comments above ( esp HSBC -awful !). Ask your solicitor to do a couple of 'Certified True Copies' of the LPA docs -these are acceptable to all banks, councils and other financials etc ands will save the risks of sending out the original docs. If you didn't use a solicitor or forgot to ask for copies of the LPA you can take them to any solicitor and they will do you certified copies for a very small fee (think it might be limited in law to a fiver or something silly). For banks etc its best to make an appointment and visit a branch in person in which case you can take the original LPA -they will copy it themselves there and then and give you the original back. Once you've lodged the LPA you should be added as a full signatory to the account and be allowed internet access etc as if you were the actual account holder.
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