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<\/p>\nPersonal finance expert said the legal change is absolutely vital – and he’s had one since his 30s<\/p>\n
03:50, 22 Apr 2026Updated 11:35, 22 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
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Martin Lewis encouraged people to sign up for power of attorney as soon as possible(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n
Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has issued a plea for people to sign up for a document which costs \u00a392 and is \u2018more important than a will\u2019 – and people can take advantage of a special event today (April 22). Speaking on This Morning to hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, he explained that if people fail to take action they could be left in a nightmare scenario.<\/p>\n
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows a person to appoint those they trust to make decisions about property, financial affairs, or health and welfare on their behalf. Mr Lewis explained if people leave it too late it can leave family members with great problems if their condition and health deteriorate – and said he\u2019d put his own in place in his 30s.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cSo to simplify this, most people worry about their will and having a will and quite right a will is important. But I would argue that a lasting power of attorney is more important. than a will. A will dictates what happens to your assets when you die. A power of attorney dictates who can look after your finances and your assets if you\u2019re alive but lose capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this happens to many more people than they think. And lots of people say, \u2018Oh, it doesn\u2019t matter. We\u2019ll deal if in the in the event\u2019, you know, whether it\u2019s Alzheimer\u2019s or a severe stroke or an accident or anything else or dementia that takes away your capacity, the idea that someone else can simply take over your finances and your health and welfare decisions is not true.”<\/p>\n
Power of Attorney Day<\/p>\n
On Wednesday 22 April 2026, Carers UK and Standard Life will host the first UK\u2011wide Power of Attorney Day. This is a national campaign encouraging all adults to plan ahead by putting a Power of Attorney (POA) in place. The day aims to bust common myths, make the process clearer, and spotlight how POAs protect people\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n