CaliforniaBride

How do i go about giving someone in the UK power of attorney on my behalf?

I only need them to act for a limited time, maybe 12 months.

Anyone done this?

Elvira

I imagine this will have to be done through a solicitor. Why not contact whoever did your will or conveyancing when you were still in the UK?

CaliforniaBride

What I need to know is how I would go about doing this as I am here and the person I wish to act as my POA is in the UK and I need them to act for me in the UK. I don't have a solicitor that I used for my conveyancing as I still own my property in the UK.

Does anyone know if I would go to a solicitor here or one in the UK? Or has anyone done this?

Bob

errr....your bank in the UK might have someone that could set it up, hsbc offered to do it for me, well i had them do my will and stuff in case i kick the bucket and they were really good about it.

snorkmaiden

It's easy peasy. Find a power of attorney form on the internet and buy it, I bought one two years ago and it cost around ten quid I think. Print it off and fill it in with the dates you require it to last for. Have a witness sign it and voila.

We used it when my hubby's grandparents died and we wanted to let my parents have control over our share of the estate.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/...al_affairs.htm

http://www.clickdocs.co.uk/ordinary-...f-attorney.htm

Lynne

I don't think a US power of attorney will cover the UK since a UK Will does not cover US property. We had to have two Wills prepared to cover property in the UK and US. Contact your Bank in the UK they are usually pretty helpful, or just find an UK attorney with a webpage and ask them.

If you need someone just to handle your bank account then a simple solution is to include that person as a signatory to the account.

snorkmaiden

She just needs to download a UK power of attorney form as she needs someone to act on her behalf in the UK.

CaliforniaBride

Thanks. I've had a look at the links and there is no formal document for a temporary power of attorney.

Do you know if I have something drawn up and notarized here then will it be valid in the UK? I thought there was some problem using a document in the UK that hd been notarised here.

Elvira

Sorry, can't help you, but you might want to try the Legal Issues board at the Motley Fool (under Helpful Fools): www.fool.co.uk

CaliforniaBride

Thanks, will do.

I was just hoping that someone here would have had experience of doing this. I'm surprised it hasn't come up before.

proo

I'm doing this myself. You don't need a solicitor unless you want it in case you become mentally incapacitated also. You need to get a general/ordinary power of attorney (valid for England and Wales, or Scotland) either from the internet or you can order them off Amazon, WHSmith, legal sites etc. Fill it all in and get a 3rd party to witness it. The attorney can go to the bank themselves with the certificate although I was told by the bank to send a cover letter explaining the situation (just in case). If you have non-regular accounts e.g. stocks and shares ISAs, you need to get the local branch to send a 'certified' copy (the branch can attest it) to the relevant office.

snorkmaiden

I didn't get mine notarized, I just got it witnessed by someone that works with my husband.

I put in the dates I wanted it to last for (it was a month I think) and I sent it to the UK with a letter explaining why I was unable to come home to deal with things myself and that was it.

CaliforniaBride

Thanks for the post. Thats all the info I need! Karma sent!

CaliforniaBride

Thanks too snork. I'll get mine notarized, we have someone we know who does it. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly and a few official looking stamps and flourish will no doubt help with the twits at my bank!

CaliforniaBride

I posted thanks. Haven't been back to check yet but I have all the info I need from here now.