What is a power of attorney and why might I need one?

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document which an individual can put in place to allow another person to act on their behalf (as their ‘attorney’) to deal with financial and/or personal affairs. The person authorising the attorney to act is known as the ‘donor’.

There may come a time when managing your own banking arrangements or making financial decisions for yourself becomes increasingly difficult, or even impossible. This could be due to all sorts of reasons, such as moving abroad, after an accident, ill health or mental illness. At this point, and often before you get to this point, you may consider appointing a power of attorney (POA), someone you trust, to manage your finances for you. This could be a member of your family, a friend or even a solicitor.

There are different types of POA, so the next step is to decide which type of POA will work for you.

Although we’re not able to give any legal advice, we’ve provided information in the following pages to give you as much guidance as possible and have also included details about how to get in touch with other organisations that may be able to assist you.

If you would rather talk through the options, either over the phone or in person, we’re here for you. You can speak to one of our Customer Services team on 0345 900 0900 or pop into your local branch.

Guardianship Orders for missing persons

You could apply for a Guardianship Order if you want to be appointed as a guardian for someone who has gone missing.

When might you choose this option?

You might consider a Guardianship Order if you are a relative or close friend of someone who has gone missing, and you believe it would be in their best interest if you were appointed to manage their property and financial affairs.

The Act applies in England and Wales only. There are no directly equivalent provisions in Scotland and Northern Ireland. You’ll find more information on the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 at gov.uk