Power of attorney (POA) is an essential estate planning tool that allows you to retain greater autonomy in the most important decisions of your life. You can choose a POA to plan for how your finances and future healthcare needs will be taken care of.
One of the most common forms of a POA is the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Life is unpredictable, and an LPA ensures you’re prepared for any unforeseen circumstances by giving someone you trust the authority to act on your behalf when needed.
Setting up an LPA can help you better prepare for your future if any health challenges or illness may affect your future ability to make decisions. It is also a good option if you prefer having an attorney to manage your financial affairs.
As we make further inroads into digitalisation, the legal landscape has also undergone significant transformation in a bid to make legal processes inclusive and accessible. You can now easily make a power of attorney online in a few simple steps.
In this article, we’ll explore how digitalisation has made online POAs relevant in 2025.
Online Legal Services
AI-driven interfaces and blockchain systems have seen a rapid rate of adoption across industries in the UK. The legal sector is no different. Technology has allowed the simplification of many legal processes, where people can now make POAs or set up wills and trusts online.
Legal processes that were previously a hassle, with all the endless paperwork and technical legal jargon, can now be set up in a few steps online. This digital revolution in the legal industry has made for a user-friendly experience, encouraging greater adoption of online legal services and promoting transparency. It has also minimised errors and made the POA process more secure and inexpensive.
Convenience and Compliance
The elderly constitute approximately 18% of the UK’s current population. This is set to increase to 30% over the next two to three decades. They, along with those with disabilities, face the most challenges in setting up legal documents.
Long commutes, visiting solicitors, meeting attorneys, and registering the POA with the office of the public guardian can be a hassle for anyone, but especially those struggling with illness or mobility issues.
The ability to set up a POA online is a total game-changer and a need of the hour. Not only does it help the elderly, but it’s also relevant for those living in remote locations and struggling to keep up with traditional legal processes.
Digital literacy programmes for the elderly help the less tech-savvy gain confidence in using online legal platforms. Many platforms also provide easy-to-use templates with clear guidance and instructions on setting up POAs and other legal frameworks. They’re also up-to-date with current legislation, making online power of attorneys a convenient way to prepare for the future.
Secure and Private
Traditional legal paperwork can be quite challenging to manage, often involving endless documents and files that require to be stored in a physical place.
Creating an online power of attorney will minimise the risk of losing or damaging this paperwork and keep your important documents online, secure, and private. It would also make it easier for your family and loved ones to navigate legal processes when you’re no longer here
All online legal platforms offering POA services have to comply with the highest levels of data protection and privacy laws. They not only hold the same weight as traditional legal paperwork but are also in line with technological updates and government initiatives to go paperless. This makes for easier and more secure online documentation, especially in the case of LPAs.
Low-Cost Legal Option
Creating a POA online is a great way to plan for your estate and ensures autonomy for you and accessibility for your loved ones. In a world with high costs of living, many people would like the advantage of low-cost legal services.
Online POA services are not only widely available but are also user-friendly. They’re less expensive to set up and ensure you have a wide range of legal options for a comprehensive estate plan. Online POAs help you save time and avoid unnecessary paperwork while giving you access to the same standard of professional service you’d get with a traditional solicitor.
Conclusion
The new year has begun with greater scrutiny of AI-driven services and industrial applications with an uptick in technological adoption.
This trend is only set to grow in the coming years to make information and services inclusive and easy to use both for the elderly and younger generations.
The legal services industry has benefitted from these tech innovations and has channelled this new-found enthusiasm for tech to make legal frameworks like POAs, trusts and wills available to everyone in a timely and cost-effective manner.
