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29 Oct 2026
Budget 2026: pensions and inheritance tax from April 2027
The Budget confirmed unused pensions count for inheritance tax from April 2027. What it means for your estate and executors.
Our Power of Attorney Services
Lasting Power
of Attorney
Plan ahead with a Lasting Power of Attorney, giving people you trust the legal authority to manage your property and finances and make health and welfare decisions if you're ever unable to do so yourself.
Ensure Your Wishes Are Respected
A lasting power of attorney is arguably more urgently needed than a will, because the events that trigger it (accident, sudden illness, the onset of dementia) can happen at any age and without warning. If you were to lose mental capacity tomorrow, who has the legal authority to pay your bills, manage your property, make decisions about your care? Without an LPA, the answer is nobody, not even your spouse. We help you put this protection in place before you need it.
Who Needs an LPA or a Trust?
If any of the following apply to you, putting a Lasting Power of Attorney or a Trust in place is essential, not optional.
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You want a say in your own care
Without a Health & Welfare LPA, no one, not even a spouse or adult child, has an automatic right to make medical or care decisions for you if you lose capacity.
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Someone needs to run your bank accounts
A Property & Financial Affairs LPA lets a trusted attorney pay bills, manage savings and deal with your property the moment it's needed, with your consent rather than a court's.
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You're leaving it "until you need it"
An LPA can only be made while you still have mental capacity. After a stroke, accident or serious illness, it may be too late, and your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection instead.
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You own property, savings or investments
A Trust can hold assets outside your personal estate, controlling how they're used during your lifetime and ring-fencing them for the people you choose.
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You want to protect a vulnerable beneficiary
If a child, grandchild or partner is young, vulnerable or unable to manage money themselves, a Trust lets you set the terms on which they benefit, rather than handing over a lump sum outright.
The reality is that most people, including many of our clients, put this off until a crisis forces the issue.
By then, an LPA may no longer be possible, and the only route left is a slower, more costly application to the Court of Protection.
A family business you can trust with what matters most
Honest guidance, careful planning, and a service that treats every family like our own.
50+ Years Combined Experience
Our team brings together over 50 years of combined experience in wills and estate planning, so your plans are shaped by real expertise.
Family-Run
Business
Founded and still run by the same family, we understand what’s at stake because we’ve planned for our own loved ones too.
Trusted &
Personal
You’ll deal with the same familiar face throughout, not a call centre, so everything stays personal, clear and built around you.
Professional
Standards
Every Will is carefully prepared to recognised professional standards, with clear guidance at every step.
Get in touch
Speak to a PJH adviser about your will, lasting power of attorney or inheritance tax planning. Your first consultation is free.
LPA: FAQ
Thinking about setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney? Here are answers to the questions we're asked most often, from what an LPA is and the two types available to what happens if you don't have one.
See all LPA FAQsA Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you choose trusted people, known as attorneys, to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself, for example through illness, an accident or dementia.
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA covers things like managing your bank accounts, paying bills and selling your home, and can be used while you still have capacity if you allow it. A Health and Welfare LPA covers decisions about your medical treatment, daily care and where you live, and can only be used once you can no longer make those decisions yourself. Many people choose to have both.
No. Even your spouse or next of kin has no automatic right to manage your finances or make decisions about your care. Without an LPA, your family may need to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as your deputy, which is usually slower, more expensive and comes with ongoing supervision.
Yes. You are welcome to visit us at our offices, and we also offer home visits across all of our service areas at no extra charge, so you can discuss your LPA in comfort. We also offer video consultations.
An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. Registration currently takes around 8 to 10 weeks, including a 4 week statutory waiting period, as long as there are no mistakes in the application. You can only make an LPA while you have the mental capacity to do so, so it's best to put one in place while you're well. We'll guide you through every step, including registration.