Elderly Client Issues
Planning For the Future
Elderly Client Issues
An elderly person may need assistance in any area of law. If you need help, our lawyers will advise with sympathy and understanding.
There are some areas of law which are of particular relevance to our elderly clients:
Life is becoming ever faster and more complex, but at Borneos we will give you time to ensure that we fully understand your concerns. We will not try to confuse you with legal jargon but will talk to you and advise you in plain English.
Retirement from Work
If you are coming up to retirement you will need to consider the financial changes which will take place and how to fund your retirement.
We cannot give advice on how to achieve the best from your pension arrangements but would recommend that you contact an independent financial services company that specialises in investments and pensions advice.
Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney
It is important that everyone should make a will, and should consider the possibility of making an enduring power of attorney or a lasting power of attorney (which are due to replace EPAs in October 2007). If you would like further information about these please click on the links or contact our specialist lawyers direct.
Living Wills
Some people particularly wish to give directions to doctors now about the type of medical treatment they wish to receive if they become ill in the future. These directions are called living wills or advance directives. If you would like help with this area, please click on the link, or contact our specialist lawyers direct.
Making Gifts and Saving Tax
There are many ways in which you can save tax either to benefit yourself or your family. Some methods are complex but others are very simple. If you would like advice in this area, please see our section on Estate and Tax Planning, or contact our specialist lawyers direct.
Sharing Accommodation
You may be considering living with other family members, either in a separate part of a property, or as part of the household, or you may be considering making a joint purchase with other family members in order to provide shared accommodation. In either case there are many legal and practical issues to consider. The specialist lawyers at Borneos will be happy to discuss these with you and to advise on any action which may be necessary.
Court of Protection Receivership
If a family member has become mentally unable to manage their affairs, but has not signed an enduring power of attorney someone will need to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as their receiver, unless their affairs are very simple. The Court of Protection will then authorise the receiver to do certain things on behalf of the family member (the patient).
Details of the patient and all his or her assets, income, expenditure, and family circumstances must be given to the Court of Protection, along with a medical certificate and details of the proposed receiver and other family members. The application process usually takes some months to complete, although the Court of Protection can make some restricted orders more quickly for certain urgent matters. Our specialist lawyers can help you with the application and the necessary paperwork.
Residential Care
Some of our clients will need care from third parties, either in their own home or in a residential or nursing home. This often raises complicated issues of state benefits, funding, and contracts with a care or nursing home. Our specialist lawyers can help you with these issues, and with any problems which might arise.
A final thought…..
Please remember that careful planning now can avoid problems which might arise in the future when you may not be able to deal with them and can save a lot of time, expense, and worry for you and your family.
If you would like to discuss how we might help you, please:
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call any of our office numbers listed at the bottom of this page;
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contact one of our specialists direct by clicking on their name below; or
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complete our enquiry form
Members of our team specialising in this area:
