Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney allows someone you trust to manage your finances or make financial decisions on your behalf. You might want to do this because of a change in your health or situation.

You might not need this help right now, but you can set up a Power of Attorney for the future. There are different types of Power of Attorney, and you might need more than one:

Ordinary or General Power of Attorney: To cover a temporary amount of time, like a hospital stay or holiday. This can only be used when you can make your own decisions.

Lasting or Continuing Power of Attorney: To give someone you trust the legal authority to make financial decisions for you. For example, if you lose the mental capacity to make your own decisions, either now or in the future.

Court of Protection: When you lose your mental capacity and have no Power of Attorney in place. The Court of Protection can choose someone to make decisions on your behalf. The UK government has provided some useful guidance on this process.

How to use the different types of supported banking

Can be used if you:	Ordinary or General Power of Attorney	Lasting or Continuing Power of Attorney	Court of Protection
Just need help with the small things, like shopping or getting cash.	No	No	No
Are physically ill, injured or disabled.	Yes	Yes	No
Need a little help with looking after your day-to-day banking, for a shorter period of time, but you don't want someone to make decisions for you.	No	No	No
You will be abroad and won't have access to your account (for example, travelling).	Yes	Yes	No
Are preparing for when you'll be unable to make decisions or want someone to start looking after all of your finances.	No	Yes	No
No longer have the mental capacity to make decisions, and someone needs to do this for you.	No	No	Yes

Arranging a Power of Attorney

Who can be an attorney?

Anyone you choose: a spouse, child, family member or a friend, someone that you trust.
Your attorney must be over the age of 18.
You might not be able to choose someone you know, and that is okay.
You can talk to a professional to be your attorney if something were to happen. This could be a solicitor, accountant or financial adviser.

Thinking about who should be your attorney

The most important thing is choosing someone you trust. Someone who'll be able to act in your best interests if you need them to.

You should talk to the person you want to nominate and make sure they're comfortable with this duty.

Finding out more about a Power of Attorney

To learn more, including how to set up a Power of Attorney document, look at the government website. It'll help you to think about what to consider, and how to complete this yourself.
If you think you'd like help setting up a Power of Attorney, our personal customers benefit from preferential rates with Irwin Mitchell who can give you advice and information. Take a look at Irwin Mitchell's website to learn more. Their advice is free of charge.
Power of Attorney is just one way we can help you, when thinking about looking after your money now or in later life. For more information, please view our Life events page within our financial wellbeing and support section.

What documents are needed to register a Power of Attorney?

A fully complete Personal Representatives/Executor, Attorneys and Receivers/Deputies Application Form (pdf).
A Power of Attorney/Court of Protection, Guardianship (Scotland), or Controllership (NI) order documents.
Two forms of identification (pdf) for all private or professional attorneys that are individually named on the Power of Attorney legal document.

If Power of Attorney is registered with the Office of Public Guardian
Please complete the following sections of the Personal Representatives/Executor, Attorneys and Receivers/Deputies Application Form: Section 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.

Section 1, 3 (personal details for the account holder and also the attorneys), 5, 6, 7 & 9 of the Personal Representatives Renewal Mandate (pdf) + ID is required for the Power of Attorney.
If Power of Attorney is not registered with the Office of Public Guardian
We'll require the following from the account holder (person who is authorising the Power of Attorney):
- Completed/signed POA mandate section 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 & 9
- A form of ID from both List 1 & 2 of our Customer identification requirements (pdf) document
- Address history (Previous home address if less than three years at current address)

Send all documents to:

Cater Allen Operations
Sunderland
SR43 4FB.

If you've got any questions, call us on 0800 092 3300.

How can we help

If you need to change an existing Power of Attorney registration

If you want us to, we can revoke, amend or update attorney details that have already been registered, please call us on 0800 092 3300.

Register a new Power of Attorney

To register a new Power of Attorney, please download the Personal Representatives/Executors, Attorneys And Receivers/Deputies Application Form (pdf). Once you've completed that form, you can send it to us at:

Cater Allen Operations
Sunderland
SR43 4FB.

Please see a copy of our Customer Identification Requirements (pdf) for your reference.

You'll need to include the Power of Attorney, Court of Protection, Guardianship (Scotland) or Controllership (NI) order document. It has to be either the original or a certified copy. The documents will be sent back to you.

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