A common concern in financial planning and later life planning
One of the most common reasons people delay setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is simple:
“I don’t want to lose control.”
It is an understandable concern. After all, an LPA involves giving someone else legal authority to make decisions on your behalf. But in reality, this belief is one of the biggest misunderstandings around LPAs in the UK.
The truth is, setting up an LPA is not about giving up control. It is about protecting it.
In this article we explain the LPA further, and you can also download our free LPA guide on our resources page.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more trusted people (known as Attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
There are two types of LPA:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA – covering money, savings, investments and property
- Health and Welfare LPA – covering care, medical decisions and daily wellbeing
Both are designed to ensure your wishes are followed if you are no longer able to communicate or make decisions yourself.
Do You Lose Control When You Set Up an LPA?
In short, no.
Setting up an LPA does not mean you lose control of your finances, your decisions or your life.
Here is how it actually works:
You stay in control while you have capacity
As long as you are able to make your own decisions, you remain fully in charge.
Your Attorneys cannot override you, ignore your wishes, or take control simply because the document exists.
You choose who is involved
You decide:
- Who your Attorneys are
- How many you appoint
- Whether they act jointly or independently
This is about placing trust in people you know and choosing them carefully.
You decide how it works
You can include guidance and instructions within the LPA, setting clear expectations about how decisions should be made.
This might include:
- Preferences around investments
- Views on care or medical treatment
- How you want your finances managed
When Can an LPA Be Used?
This is where confusion often arises.
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA can be used with your permission while you still have capacity, for example, if you want help managing your finances.
A Health and Welfare LPA can only be used if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself.
In both cases, the key principle is the same:
Your wishes come first, for as long as you are able to express them.
What Happens If You Do Not Have an LPA?
Many people avoid setting up an LPA because they feel it is unnecessary or something to deal with later.
But without one, if you lose capacity:
- Your family cannot automatically make decisions for you
- Access to accounts, property or investments may be restricted
- Decisions may need to go through the Court of Protection
- The process can be time-consuming, costly and stressful for loved ones
In this situation, control is not maintained. It is handed over to a legal process.
Why an LPA Is Really About Control
When you look at it from a different perspective, an LPA actually gives you more control, not less.
It allows you to:
- Decide who makes decisions on your behalf
- Set out your preferences in advance
- Protect your finances and wellbeing
- Reduce uncertainty for your family
Without it, those decisions may be made by people who do not know your wishes, or through a system that does not reflect your priorities.
The Emotional Side of the Decision
It is not just a legal or financial decision.
For many people, putting an LPA in place means:
- Reducing the burden on family
- Avoiding difficult situations later
- Creating reassurance that things are organised
It is often one of those tasks that feels easy to put off, but brings a strong sense of clarity once it is done.
Final Thoughts: Control Comes from Planning
The idea that setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney means losing control is one of the biggest myths in financial planning.
In reality, it is one of the most practical ways to maintain control over your future.
It ensures that if something unexpected happens, your wishes are understood, your decisions are respected, and your family has the ability to act in your best interests.
If this is something you have been putting off, it may be worth revisiting that assumption.
Because planning ahead is not about expecting the worst.
It is about being prepared, having clarity, and keeping control of what matters most.
Visit our resources page for our free guide to Lasting Power of Attorney.
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At Willow Tree Financial Services, we offer personalised advice on Financial Planning, Mortgages, Investments, Pensions, Personal & Business Protection, and Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning, all tailored to your individual goals and circumstances.
Call us on 01323 436680, get in touch here, or book an appointment here to get started.
We’re based in Polegate, East Sussex, and support clients across the South East and beyond.
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Willow Tree Financial Services is a trading style of Rachael Panteney who is an appointed representative of Quilter Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate wills, trusts, estate planning, and lasting power of attorney.
Will writing is not part of the Quilter Financial Planning offering, and is offered in our own right by referral only, Quilter Financial Planning accepts no responsibility for this part of our business.§
