If the person you want to help doesn’t already have a power of attorney in place, you need to make different arrangements.

You’ll have to make a formal application to the right agency, and they’ll want to see proof that the person you’re applying for has lost mental capacity.

You can find instructions and paperwork for your application on these websites:

• England or Wales: The Court of Protection
• Scotland: The Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland)
• Northern Ireland: The Office of Care and Protection

You will have to pay an application fee. It can take several months to get the paperwork properly sorted out.

To avoid getting confused by the language it’s important to know that you won’t be called an ‘attorney’ if you make this kind of application.

Although you’ll usually have the same power as an attorney to manage the financial affairs of the person who has lost mental capacity.

• In England and Wales, you’ll be called a deputy.
• In Scotland, you’ll be called a guardian.
• In Northern Ireland, you’ll be called a controller.

Step 3 – Show the document to the person’s bank?