“There is a waiting period before your power of attorney (PoA) can be processed and returned to you.

• EPOAR submissions: 30 day waiting period, we are working on PoAs received on and around 30th September 2014
• Manual submissions: 11 week waiting period, we are working on PoAs received on and around 29th August 2014

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

More on this can be found here.

This is from the OPG (Scotland) website:

“Further to the opinion expressed by Sheriff Baird, which cast doubt on the validity of powers of attorney drafted in what is a standard form, the Public Guardian has instructed detailed legal advice on the most appropriate option to achieve clarity on this. The Public Guardian wishes a procedure which gives an opportunity for PoA validity issues to be fully explored. Any update will be provided here.”

More on this from can be found here.

An earlier blog on this can also be found here.

“On 8th September 2014 we introduced a new policy for reviewing accounts.

Solicitors submitting accounts for review will no doubt be aware that our recent and current processing times are lengthy. While we accept that our level of service could be better, it is our experience that the standard of a significant proportion of submitted accounts are incomplete and are not supported with the necessary documentation. These cases require our reviewing officers to spend additional time and effort trying to problem solve, balancing accounts or writing to financial guardians looking for the necessary information.

Therefore, to address issues and help improve our processing times, a new policy will be applied to all accounts submitted after 8th September 2014.

Solicitors are advised that we will be returning all accounts:

• which do not have a completed account form attached;
• that are incomplete;
• that are not in the Public Guardian’s prescribed form. Note that accounts of charge and discharge will no longer be acceptable.

We may also return any/all forms which do not balance (although this will be subject to discretion).

This measure has been taken to reduce the amount of time spent on incomplete accounts and to help improve the standard of accounting submitted. This policy will apply to accounts submitted by lay and professional financial guardians. Solicitors advising prospective financial guardians on their potential role are asked to bring the above information to their attention.”

More on this can be found here.

“25 August 2014

Update on Power of Attorney Submissions

There is a waiting period before your power of attorney (PoA) can be processed and returned to you.

• EPOAR submissions: 24 day waiting period, we are working on PoAs received on and around 18th July 2014
• Manual submissions: 27 week waiting period, we are working on PoAs received on and around 21st February 2014

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

More on this issue can be found here.

This is from OPG Scotland’s website news section.

“31 July 2014

Update on Power of Attorney (PoA) Validity Issue

The Public Guardian has been made aware that the Clydesdale Bank has decided not to pursue its appeal against the decision of the Sheriff at Glasgow. The Public Guardian is conscious that the decision raised a number of issues, including that of the validity of the power of attorney in question. The Public Guardian is in the course of making an application to Glasgow Sheriff Court under s.3 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 in order to obtain directions from the Sheriff on a number of those issues. The procedure to be followed by the OPG should give an opportunity for PoA validity issues to be fully explored. The Public Guardian does not expect to comment further while that application is pending.

Sheriff Baird’s Opinion can be accessed from this link.”

My earlier blog on this issue can be found here.

“9 April 2014

Turnaround Time for Account Reviews

There is currently a 16 – 20 week waiting period for accounts to be reviewed. We apologise for any inconvenience the delay may cause financial guardians.

The Account Review Team are currently working with accounts received on and around 10th December 2013. Financial guardians who have queries regarding their accounts or the waiting time may contact opgreviewteam@scotcourts.gov.uk.

8 April 2014

Power of Attorney (PoA) Update – Manual Submissions

There is currently an 11 week waiting period before your PoA can be processed and returned to you. This week we will be working on PoAs received on and around 23rd January 2014.

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

More on this can be found here.

“The majority of fees payable to the Public Guardian will increase on 1st April 2014.

Fees relating to powers of attorney remain the same, however it is recommended that frequent users of OPG services familiarise themselves with the fees that have altered to avoid overpaying.”

More on this can be found here.

“4 March 2014

Power of Attorney (PoA) Update – Manual Submissions

There is currently a 12 week waiting period before your PoA can be processed and returned to you. This week we will be working on PoAs received on and around 13th December 2013.

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

More on this can be found here.

“Power of Attorney (PoA) Update – Manual Submissions

There is currently a 15 week waiting period before your PoA can be processed and returned to you. This week we will be working on PoAs received on and around 2nd October 2013.

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

“Turnaround Time for Annual Reviews

There is currently a 14 – 16 week waiting period for annual accounts to be reviewed. We apologise for any inconvenience the delay may cause financial guardians

The Annual Review Team are currently working with accounts received on and around 30th September 2013. Financial guardians who have queries regarding their accounts or the waiting time may contact opgreviewteam@scotcourts.gov.uk.”

More on this can be found here.

“There is currently a 12 week waiting period before your PoA can be processed and returned to you. This week we will be working on PoAs received on and around 30th May 2013.

If there is a genuine urgency, we will expedite the registration of a PoA ‘on cause shown’. We ask that people respect this service and only use it in cases of true urgency to avoid defeating its purpose.”

More on this can be found here.