General Power of Attorney

A General Power of Attorney (GPA) is a legal document that grants a nominated person (the attorney) authority to act on your behalf in financial, property, and other legal matters for a defined period.

Unlike a Lasting Power of Attorney, a General Power of Attorney automatically ceases to have effect if the donor loses mental capacity. It is therefore most useful as a short-term or specific-purpose arrangement — for example, if you are going abroad for an extended period, are temporarily incapacitated due to illness, or wish to delegate authority to manage a particular transaction such as a property sale.

A GPA can be as broad or as narrow as you choose. It can grant the attorney full authority to manage all financial affairs, or it can be limited to a specific purpose — for example, signing documents in relation to a specific property purchase or sale on your behalf.

The document must be properly executed in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 to be legally valid. It does not need to be registered with any official body, unlike an LPA, which means it can be put in place relatively quickly.

If you are considering a General Power of Attorney, it is important to choose your attorney carefully and to keep a copy of the document in a safe and accessible location. You should also inform relevant institutions — such as your bank — so they can act on your attorney’s instructions when needed.

Terence Ray Solicitors can advise you on whether a GPA or an LPA is more appropriate for your circumstances, and will draft the document to your specification.

Call 020 3367 1430 or email info@trsolicitors.co.uk.