A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is an important document that gives someone of your choice the authority to make decisions on your behalf when you can no longer do so. Between 2013 and 2017 almost two million people who took out an LPA were overcharged by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) . So far only 200,000 of the 1.8 million people owed have claimed their refund, meaning that there is £77 million still owed to customers. The exact amount will depend on when the registration was made but Claimants can expect to receive a refund of up to £54 with any accrued interested since the registration of their LPA. Karen Grimm, a senior solicitor at Morrisons Solicitors and Regional Co-Coordinator of Solicitors for the Elderly, is urging people to check their eligibility for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) fee refund. Claims must be made by 1st February 2021 and to apply for a refund visit their webpage. It takes about ten minutes to claim online. You’ll need the donor’s bank details and a copy of the LPA, if you have it. If you need help or more information about making a claim, there’s a Refunds Helpline you can contact, either via telephone on 0300 456 0300 or you can e-mail poarefunds@justice.gsi.gov.uk Recent research from Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) found that there are only 7% of LPAs in place across the UK, meaning that millions of people are currently unprepared for later life. Karen urges anyone planning for their future and who has not already done so to consider the benefits of making an LPA and to seek advice from a specialist lawyer. How can Morr & Co help? If you have any questions or would like any further information on the content of this article, please do not hesitate to contact our Private Client team on 01737 854500 or email info@morrlaw.com and a member of our expert team will get back to you. Disclaimer Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this newsletter/blog are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position. Tags Insights On this page Related Stories Do you need a lasting power of attorney? View more Contact our team today Contact Us
