A

• Attorney

  The person who is given authority by a power of attorney to act on behalf of the donor in financial or medical/health matters

 

C

• Carer

  A person who has been appointed to care for another person in financial and health matters.

• Controller (Northern Ireland)

  Appointed by the Court to act on behalf of someone who no longer possesses capacity.

• Continuing Power of Attorney (Scotland)

  A legal document that allows a person (Granter) to appoint one or more people (Attorneys) to act on their behalf.

• Court of Protection

  A Court that makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who can’t make decisions for themselves at the time they need to be made.

• Court Order

  A ruling issued by a court or a judge requiring a person to do or not do something.

 

D

• Deputy

  A person appointed by the Court of Protection to act on behalf of another person who is unable to make decisions for themselves (England & Wales).

• Donor

  A person who is giving another person authority to act on their behalf in financial or medical and health matters.

 

E

• Enduring Power of Attorney

  A legal document that appoints one or more people (Attorneys) to act on behalf of the donor to manage their affairs. (Please note: Enduring Power of Attorneys in England and Wales were replaced by Lasting Power of Attorney in October 2007 and no longer available. Enduring Power of Attorney is a current method of Power of Attorney in Northern Ireland).

• Estate

  The property, assets and outstanding debts belonging to a person who has died.

 

G

• Granter (Scotland)

  The person giving another person authority to act on their behalf in financial or medical and health matters (equivalent to Donor in England & Wales).

• Guardian (Scotland)

  A person appointed by a court to make decisions regarding the care of another person.

• Guardianship (Scotland)

  A legal proceeding to determine whether a person is legally incapable and should have a Guardian appointed to care for the person or the person’s financial matters.

• Guardianship Order (Scotland)

  A court appointment which authorises a person(s) to act and make decisions for another person.

• General Power of Attorney

  A Power of Attorney that gives a person very broad powers, generally to conduct all kinds of business on behalf of another person.

 

H

• Health & Welfare Power of Attorney

  A legal document giving a person the power to act on behalf of another person in medical and health matters.

 

I

• Incapacitated or incapcity

  The position of no longer having the ability to perform an action or an activity which may be due to a physical or mental condition.

 

L

• Lasting Power of Attorney (England & Wales)

  A legal document that appoints one or more people (Attorney) to act on behalf of another person.

• Letter of Authority

  Written confirmation from a person enabling the sharing of information with a named third party for a set period of time or for a defined purpose. (Please note: This is an informal mechanism and does not permit the appointee to make any transactions or alterations to any contract).

 

O

• Office of Public Guardian

  A government body which protects people in England and Wales who may not have the ability to make decisions for themselves.

 

P

• Power(s) of Attorney

  A document that gives one person (Attorney) authority to act on behalf of another person (Donor or Granter).

• Property & Financial Power of Attorney

  A Power of Attorney giving a person the power to act on behalf of another person in financial matters.

 

S

• Solicitor

  A legal professional.

• Solvent

  Having sufficient assets to pay their financial commitment and debts.

 

T

• Third party Mandate/ Agreement/ Arrangment

  A short term arrangement where a person appoints a third party to conduct specified activities on their behalf.