Make decisions for someone (power of attorney)

Find out about making decisions for another adult who is unable to.

Get permission to look after someone's money, property or care

Power of attorney gives permission for an adult to look after another adult's money, property or care if they're unable to do it themselves.

It is a legal document that gives someone else permission to make decisions on their behalf.

If someone lacks mental capacity to appoint a power of attorney for themselves, another person can apply to a court to help make decisions for them.

This might happen if someone has a learning disability, a mental health problem, or an illness such as dementia.

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You can apply for the right to deal with another adult's benefits if they can't manage their own affairs. This is called being an appointee.

If the Council deals with your benefits and you have £3,000 or more in savings, we'll ask you to pay an annual management fee.

If you have between £3,000 and £20,300 in savings: you'll pay an annual management fee of 3.5% of your savings.
If you have savings of more than £23,000: you'll pay an annual management fee of £824.

This will only affect you if the Council manages your appointeeship.

A living will lets family, carers and health professionals know your wishes about refusing a specific type of treatment in the future.