If you are in Scotland, you may make a ‘Continuing Power of Attorney' (CPA), a ‘Welfare Power of Attorney’ (WPA) or a combination of both. A CPA is a power of attorney relating to your financial and/or property affairs and can either take effect immediately or take effect if you lose capacity. A WPA is a power of attorney which allows someone you have appointed to make welfare decisions for you; a WPA will take effect on you losing the capacity to make these decisions.
Powers of attorney must be certified by a lawyer or medical practitioner. They must also be registered with The Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland and will not take effect until they have been registered accordingly.
For more information, read Power of attorney in Scotland or Ask a lawyer.