Members of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL) are specialist lawyers trained to give legal advice to vulnerable and older people.
ALL’s mission is to ensure that this group of people is adequately protected in the event of losing capacity – and to get the message out there that not enough of us are thinking and planning for a future when we may not be able to manage our own affairs. This concern was highlighted by a study in 2018 conducted by ALL that showed a huge disparity in numbers between those likely to be affected by dementia and those preparing for it. The survey reported that 97% of people who should be considering making legal provision in the event of incapacity had failed to do so and that fewer than a million people had registered a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), despite there being nearly 13 million people over the age of 65.
Association of Lifetime Lawyers campaigns for vulnerable clients
Fast forward to 2023 and although the number of LPA registrations increased to 1.2 million, it is still falls short of the number we might expect to see given the UK’s aging population. Explaining the importance of having an LPA in place is just one example of how ALL is helping to provide vulnerable and older people with the sort of legal support they and their families need in order to navigate some of the more complex issues they are facing now, or likely to face in the future. Every fully accredited ALL lawyer is required as part of their accreditation to prove they understand the nature of the sort of vulnerabilities that can affect people as they age, such as Parkinson’s, dementia, degenerative conditions, and sight, hearing and mobility issues.
ALL lawyers are accredited specialists
Siobhan Sibley has been advising clients on wills, LPAs and estate and trust administration for many years. She has been an ALL lawyer since January 2023 and is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) having completed her STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates with distinction. The route to accreditation with ALL required her to undertake specialist training, which not only helps her advise clients who may be struggling with mental and/or physical difficulties in an empathetic manner, but also helps her to spot signs of abuse and neglect, a critical factor when ensuring the validity of legal documentation. Her experience and training enables her to tailor her advice to an individual’s specific circumstances, as well as being able to explain matters to supporting family members.
It's never to early to plan ahead
One of the messages the ALL is keen to get across to people is the need to plan ahead – and it’s never too early to start. As their research has uncovered, many of us are woefully ill-prepared and are likely to struggle to manage our finances if our capacity diminishes through old age or illness. The same applies to health and welfare – stating your wishes clearly and appointing an attorney who can ensure those wishes are carried out is one way of retaining some autonomy. This resonates with Siobhan who sees at first hand the financial and emotional distress of relatives unable to help someone dear to them who is suffering from mental incapacity but who has not given anyone authority, via an LPA, to act on their behalf. In this situation, relatives have no option other than to apply for a Deputyship Order through the Court of Protection, a slow and expensive route.
Don’t forget your will
There is also the small matter of having a will in place. Siobhan can advise you on the best way of protecting your family, ensuring that your assets are inherited by those people you would like to benefit. This is particularly important if you have remarried and/or have a more complicated family structure – stating your wishes clearly in a will while you still have capacity (and Siobhan, as an accredited ALL lawyer, has been trained to assess this) will help to lighten the emotional and administrative burden on your family.
Siobhan would be delighted to speak to you, either to discuss your affairs, or the affairs of a family member you are concerned about, in the strictest confidence. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
The information provided in this article is provided for general information purposes only, and does not provide definitive advice. It does not amount to legal or other professional advice and so you should not rely on any information contained here as if it were such advice.
Wright Hassall does not accept any responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on any information published here. Definitive advice can only be given with full knowledge of all relevant facts. If you need such advice please contact a member of our professional staff.
The information published across our Knowledge Base is correct at the time of going to press.
