A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document allows a person to act on their behalf in relation to financial, medicalor legal matters. This is usually required when a becomes unwell and especially if suffering from a terminal illness causing them to be unable to make decisions, lack mental capacity or carry out actions on their own accord. The type of affairs that a person can carry out on behalf of another could be the following:
- Dealing with Doctors and making medical decisions
- Managing finances and property
- Paying bills
- Liaising with lawyers
In the absence of a Lasting Power of Attorney i.e. if somebody has not appointed someone to act on their behalf and becomes incapacitated to make decisions, then family members will have to petition the court for an order to grant decision making powers and be given access to that person’s finances. Therefore, it is crucial for people to think about this matter and take actions accordingly.
Islamically we are required to ensure we leave our affairs organised and establish our desires for inheritance i.e. writing a Will. Therefore, it is important that Muslims think about granting a Lasting Power of Attorney to people at an appropriate juncture in their life.