Great news!

Average life expectancy across the UK as a whole has risen from 75.9 years in 1990 to a current average of 81.3 years.

Those are fantastic numbers if you are fit and healthy but what if you have to go into care? What if you have to spend a long time in care? How will it be paid for?

Firstly, let’s look at a very typical situation that a number of older couples may find themselves in.

Mary and Peter are in their early 70s, married and own a house on a

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T HAVE LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY

It can be difficult to think of a time when you may not be able to make your own decisions but this happens to thousands of people every year and not just as a result of the ageing process. A sudden accident or illness can also mean you lose your ability to look after yourself but, of course, no one thinks it will happen to them.

But what if it does?

If you have already discussed this issue with your family and

None of us wants to think about a time when we may not be able to manage our own affairs, whether this is because of old age or a more sudden problem such as an accident or illness. But it can happen and this begs the question, who will take care of your affairs if your capacity to make decisions about your own finances or health becomes diminished?

The Situation Without Lasting Power of Attorney

If you have not made any arrangements, the only way your financial affairs can be managed