Leading independent Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew is offering two free seminars next month (8 February and 22 February) for people who have been appointed as an Attorney and would like to know more about what the role entails.

Increasing numbers of people in Scotland are granting Powers of Attorney (PoA) giving chosen relatives, friends or professionals power to make decisions and act in matters of finance and personal welfare on their behalf should they become incapable of making these decisions themselves.

Often people who are appointed as Attorneys have questions about what they should be doing.

Some of these questions include:
• How do people prove they have been appointed as Attorney?
• How does someone assume the duties and responsibilities?
• What rights and responsibilities does an Attorney have?
• How do they exercise these?
• What are the rules and guidance in place for Attorneys?

The Perth seminar, taking place on 8 February will be held at The Black Watch Museum in Perth from 5.30pm-8pm and the other at Gillespie Macandrew’s Edinburgh office at 5 Atholl Crescent on the 22nd February from 5.30pm-8pm.

Elspeth Paget, Head of Private Client at Gillespie Macandrew, said:

“Granting a Power of Attorney shouldn’t be a scary thought or something that’s purely associated with older people.

“What people don’t realise is that having a PoA can save a lot of time and money, especially if someone becomes incapacitated due to either mental or physical deterioration, or both. Appointing an Attorney allows choice in who can deal with your affairs. If capacity is lost in the future and there is no PoA in place, the alternative is an application to the Sheriff Court for an Intervention Order or Guardianship order which can take months and possibly cost thousands of pounds.

The aim of the seminar is to provide an opportunity for those who have been appointed as attorneys to hear the answers to these questions (and ask others!) from a team of friendly solicitors in an informal setting.

If you have been appointed as an Attorney or have granted a Power of Attorney and would like to attend one of these seminars, please contact megan.mcconnell@gillespiemacandrew.co.uk.