The Public Guardian has announced that from 1st April 2013, substitute attorneys will be required to confirm by way of signature, that they are willing to act at the point of registration.

This change in practice will impact on the Schedule 1 certificate, which is incorporated in the power of attorney document, as it will be necessary to state the names of any substitute attorneys in Section 4 of the certificate.  These requirements will apply to continuing and/or welfare powers of attorney signed after 1st April 2013.

The power of attorney registration form that we currently provide is being modified and will include a facility for substitute attorneys to confirm their willingness to act.

This form will be available from the “Power of Attorney Registration Forms and Guidance Notes” section of the website by the end of this month.  This version of the form may be used prior to 1st April 2013.

More on this can be found here.