Powers of Attorney Act 2023

JurisdictionUK Non-devolved
Year2023
Citation2023 c. 42


Powers of Attorney Act 2023

2023 Chapter 42

An Act to make provision about lasting powers of attorney; to make provision about proof of instruments creating powers of attorney; and for connected purposes.

[18 September 2023]

e it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Lasting powers of attorney

Lasting powers of attorney

S-1 Lasting powers of attorney

1 Lasting powers of attorney

The Schedule makes provision in relation to lasting powers of attorney.

Certifying copies of power of attorney

Certifying copies of power of attorney

S-2 Certifying copies of power of attorney

2 Certifying copies of power of attorney

(1) Section 3 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)(b), after “authorised person” insert “, chartered legal executive”.

(3) After subsection (3) insert—

(3A) In this section “chartered legal executive” means a person authorised by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives to practise as a chartered legal executive.”

General provisions

General provisions

S-3 Extent, commencement and short title

3 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales only, subject to subsection (2).

(2) The following provisions extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland—

(a)

(a) section 2;

(b)

(b) this section;

(c)

(c) paragraph 8(a) and (b) of the Schedule.

(3) This section comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(4) Section 2 comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

(5) The remaining provisions of this Act come into force on such day or days as the Lord Chancellor may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.

(6) The regulations—

(a)

(a) may make transitional, transitory or saving provision, and

(b)

(b) may make different provision for different purposes.

(7) This Act may be cited as the Powers of Attorney Act 2023.

Schedule

Lasting powers of attorney

Registration of lasting powers of attorney

Introduction

Introduction

1 Schedule 1 to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (lasting powers of attorney: formalities) is amended as follows.

Application for registration of lasting power of attorney

Application for registration of lasting power of attorney

2 In paragraph 4—

SCH-1.a

a

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)(a), after “made” insert“by the donor”;

SCH-1.b

b

(b) omit sub-paragraph (2);

SCH-1.c

c

(c) for sub-paragraph (3) substitute—

(3) The application must be accompanied by the instrument (whether or not the instrument complies with paragraph 1(1)(c)).”

3 After that paragraph insert—

SCH-1.4A

4A

“4A If it appears to the Public Guardian that the instrument as submitted under paragraph 4(3) fails in a prescribed respect to comply with paragraph 1(1)(c), the Public Guardian must take any steps that may be prescribed for ensuring that the instrument complies with paragraph 1(1)(c) in that respect.”

Notifications

Notifications

(1) Omit paragraph 6.

(2) For paragraph 7 substitute—

SCH-1.7

7

(1) As soon as is practicable after both the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are met, the Public Guardian must notify the donor, the donee (or, if more than one, each of them) and each named person that those conditions have been met.

(2) The conditions are—

(a)

(a) that the Public Guardian has received an application under paragraph 4 in relation to an instrument intended to create a lasting power of attorney, and

(b)

(b) that it appears to the Public Guardian that the instrument has been made in accordance with this Schedule.”

(3) Omit paragraph 8.

Exclusion of notification requirements

Exclusion of notification requirements

5 For paragraph 10 and the italic heading before it substitute—

SCH-1.10

10

10. Exclusion of notification requirements

The Public Guardian may, on an application made by the donor with respect to a named person, determine that paragraph 7 is not to apply in relation to that person if satisfied that there are special circumstances which justify the disapplication of that provision in relation to that person.”

Identification requirements

Identification requirements

6 After paragraph 10 insert—

SCH-1.10A

10A

10A. Identification requirements

(1) Regulations may impose, in respect of applications under paragraph 4 for the registration of an instrument, requirements for the purpose of establishing or verifying the identity of persons named in an instrument or taking part in the process of an application.

(2) If it appears to the Public Guardian that a requirement imposed by regulations under sub-paragraph (1) is not met in the case of an instrument, the Public Guardian must not register the instrument unless directed to do so by the court.”

Objections to registration

Objections to registration

(1) In paragraph 13—

(a)

(a) for sub-paragraph (3)(b) substitute—

SCH-1.b

b

“(b) before the end of the prescribed period, gives notice to the Public Guardian of an objection to the registration on a prescribed ground.”;

(b)

(b) for sub-paragraph (4) substitute—

(4) The Public Guardian must not register the instrument unless—

(a)

(a) the Public Guardian is satisfied that no evidence has been provided which reasonably supports the making of the objection on that ground, or

(b)

(b) the court, on the application of the donor or the donee (or, if more than one, any of them), directs the Public Guardian to register the instrument.”

(2) After that paragraph...

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