When does a power of attorney begin and when does it end?

A general power of attorney begins straight away while a lasting power of attorney (LPA) begins once it is registered at the Office of the Public Guardian.

An ordinary power of attorney will end automatically once the donor is mentally incapacitated or dies. An LPA automatically ends as soon as the donor dies. The donor may revoke a power of attorney at any time by telling the attorney in writing that it has been revoked. In the case of an LPA, the donor should also inform the Office of the Public Guardian which will update the LPA register.

Additionally, an ordinary power of attorney may be general without any restrictions imposed or it can be restricted to specific affairs. It can be set for a limited time period, or the donor can revoke it at any time. An ordinary power of attorney will be revoked automatically as soon as the donor has lost mental capacity, which is different from an LPA.