Explanatory Memorandum

Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

2016 CHAPTER 18

9 May 2016

Commentary on Sections

Part 5 – Lasting Powers of Attorney

Chapter 1 - Lasting Powers of Attorney
Section 105 – Replacement attorneys: position where two or more initial appointees

This section sets out how replacement attorneys are to act in circumstances where there are two or more “initial” attorneys appointed and one is replaced by a replacement attorney. The section then refers to the acting attorneys as “relevant appointees” who must act as the LPA originally prescribed i.e. jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly in some areas and jointly and severally in other areas, even though one of the initial attorneys has been replaced. However, where a terminating event occurs that prevents one of the relevant attorneys from acting in respect of the donor’s property and affairs, that attorney can continue to act in respect of other matters (care, treatment and personal welfare) along with the other attorney, as prescribed by the LPA instrument i.e. jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly in some areas and jointly and severally in other areas.