A NORTH-East law firm is warning residents to think carefully before signing lasting power of attorney documents following concerns raised by a retired senior judge.

Denzil Lush, a former Court of Protection judge experienced in managing the interests of those unable to look after themselves, warned last week that attorneys should be trusted implicitly.

During an interview on Radio 4's Today Programme, Mr Lush stated he would not sign a power of attorney agreement himself that would entitle a third party to make financial and welfare decisions for him if he was incapable of doing so.

However, Anne Elliot, chief executive of Darlington-based Latimer Hinks Solicitors, has argued that each decision should be made on a case by case basis.

She said: “We will never know the number of cases in which someone has abused their position following his or her appointment as attorney, but probably the majority are implemented without any issue.

“Unfortunately, however, there have been cases where the attorney appointed to handle someone else’s affairs has not had the other person’s best interests at heart and has abused the position."

She added: “It’s too easy for people to download a power of attorney online and follow a box-ticking exercise.

"In doing so, they often fail to fully appreciate the implications and power of the documents and, importantly, the risks associated with them.

"These documents are invaluable in the right hands, potentially lethal in the wrong.”