We provide the complete commercial debt recovery service; from outsourced early arrears collections through to expert litigation, all handled in-house by a multi-award-winning law firm.

 

Visit our debt recovery website
REQUEST A CALLBACK

Temporary financial authority with a General Power of Attorney

A General Power of Attorney (GPA), also known as an Ordinary Power of Attorney, is typically used to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial and property affairs temporarily—whether you’re travelling, unwell, or need help with a specific transaction.

If you’re considering giving a friend or family member the authority to act on your behalf, complete the form, and one of our solicitors will contact you to discuss how we can support your needs and ensure everything is set up correctly.

Free initial telephone consultation
Dedicated solicitor throughout
STEP-recognised estate planning specialists
Vector illustration of a classic telephone handset.

Request a call back to discuss your requirements

Want to speak to us now? Call us on 01332 226 162.

Unlike a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), a General Power of Attorney (GPA) ends if the donor loses mental capacity and does not cover medical or welfare decisions. Because of this, General Powers of Attorney do not require registration with the Office of the Public Guardian.

Our solicitors ensure your General Power of Attorney is properly drafted and executed to meet legal requirements and minimise complications. We also offer ongoing support to keep your arrangements up to date as your circumstances change.

With extensive experience in creating and reviewing General Powers of Attorney, we understand that every situation is unique. We guide you through appointing attorneys, clearly defining your instructions, and assessing whether a GPA or an alternative—like an LPA—is the best fit. Our tailored advice ensures your document provides the right authority and protection, giving your attorneys the legal clarity and confidence to act on your behalf without delay or uncertainty.

When is a General Power of Attorney useful?

  • Temporary absence: If you’re travelling or otherwise unavailable to manage your financial affairs
  • Temporary illness or incapacity: If you’re unable to handle finances due to illness or injury
  • Specific transactions: If someone needs authority to complete a one-time financial matter, such as selling your property

What can a General Power of Attorney not be used for?

A General Power of Attorney does not allow attorneys to:

  • Make gifts on behalf of the donor
  • Act as a trustee or personal representative (e.g., administer an estate)
  • Sign a will on behalf of the donor
  • Delegate their authority to another person

How can attorneys act under a General Power of Attorney?

You can appoint more than one attorney to act:

  • Jointly: All decisions must be made together
  • Jointly and severally: Attorneys can act together or independently, offering greater flexibility

Scroll to next section

Scroll back to the top

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

For more information on how these cookies work, please refer to our Cookies Policy.

Strictly necessary cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our website. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Force24 cookies & tracking

This website utilises Force24’s marketing automation platform. Force24 cookies are first-party cookies and are enabled at the point of cookie acceptance on this website. The cookies are named below:

F24_autoID
F24_personID

They allow us to understand our audience engagement thus allowing better optimisation of marketing activity.