To encourage more Singaporeans to plan ahead, the Lasting Power of Attorney application form now has less legal and technical jargon, and the application fee is being waived.

 

As of September 1, 2014, the application process for the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will be simplified to encourage more Singaporeans to plan ahead. The changes include a simplified application form with less legal and technical jargon, and a waiver of the current S$50 application fee for two years from September 1. There will also be free postal service by SingPost for LPA submissions via Business Reply Service for two years.

The LPA is a legal instrument provided for under the Mental Capacity Act. It enables individuals to appoint a person(s) they trust to decide and act on their behalf if they should lose the capacity to make their own decisions.

With this changes, applicants will only need to pay professional fees charged by LPA certificate issuers such as accredited general practitioners, lawyers and psychiatrists, engaged to witness the LPA applications. According to a recent article in The Straits Times, more than 2,500 people applied for the LPA from April last year to March this year. It added that only 655 people did so in the same timeframe three years ago.

For more details on the revised LPA, go to: www.publicguardian.gov.sg/The-LPA/Revised-LPA-Form-2014/Revised-LPA-Forms.

 

(** PHOTO CREDIT: Business man, kristja, free images)

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