Be aware of where all financial documentation is stored and find out all financial commitments. Legal advice can be sought to ensure that arrangements are in place to protect the person with dementia and their family during the course of the illness. This enables the person with dementia to appoint someone to look after their affairs, particularly financial, when they are no longer able to do so. The person with dementia has to be capable of understanding what is involved at the time the EPA is assigned and registered. Advice as to whether the person is mentally capable of assigning an EPA can be sought from the GP or solicitor.
Special forms are available from solicitors or legal stationers and the costs are low.
The EPA can be agreed at any time but is only in force once it is registered. The Public Trust Office is responsible for the registration of all enduring powers of attorney applications. If there is no enduring power of attorney in place, it may be necessary to consider applying to the Court of Protection for management of finance and property. This should ensure that anyone, either an appointed relative or friend, a solicitor or if no-one is suitable then the Public Trustee, acting on behalf of the person with dementia does so with full legal authority and in the person's best interests. The Public Trust office has recently been criticised during public audit for not working in the best interests of its clients.