Forum: Sufficient certificate issuers available for Lasting Power of Attorney certification needs
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We thank Mr Dylon Poh for his letter (“Widen the pool of professionals who can certify LPAs”, May 1).
The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows a person (donor) to voluntarily appoint one or more persons to make decisions and act on his/her behalf if he/she loses mental capacity. The LPA must be witnessed and certified by a certificate issuer (CI), who plays the crucial role of assessing that the donor understands the purpose of the LPA and the legal authority conferred under it, and ensuring that no undue pressure or fraud was involved in the LPA certification process. This requires medical or legal expertise, which is why under the Mental Capacity Act, only psychiatrists, accredited medical practitioners, and lawyers can be CIs.
Currently, there are about 9,000 CIs, catering to donors with different needs and preferences. Applicants may search for a CI, view their fees and book a certification appointment through the Office of Public Guardian Online website. The 10 most visited accredited medical practitioners charge between $24 and $60, with most charging $50. Individuals who require financial assistance may approach non-profit organisations for pro bono or means-tested CI services.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development recently announced that the application fee for LPA Form 1 will be permanently free of charge for Singapore citizens. We encourage everyone to make an LPA as soon as possible, to provide assurance for yourself and your loved ones.
Rahayu Buang
Public Guardian
Ministry of Social and Family Development