Get your power of attorney checked so you can use it with us

Before you can manage Prudential policies or investments on behalf of someone else, we'll need to check the power of attorney you hold. We’ll also need to check your details and the details of the customer.

This is an important part of protecting our customers.

If you don't have a power of attorney, but need to manage the affairs of someone who can’t make their own decisions, you’ll need to get a court order.

You need to send it to us so we can check it

You need to send us the original document or a certified paper copy so we can check that the power of attorney:

We also need to see what the full document says, this will tell us what you're allowed to do.

And even if you've registered it with a government body, we'll need to see it.

We need to check attorney and customer details too

We need to check your details (as an attorney) and the details of the customer who has granted you the power of attorney. This includes checking identity.

If there are other attorneys, we may need to check their details too.

We might be able to check these details from information you give us over the phone. Or you and the other attorneys may have to send us some documents.

What we accept

We can only accept powers of attorney that cover finances and property. And if you have the type that needs to be registered, then you’ll need to make sure it’s registered before we can accept it.

These are:

We can’t accept powers of attorney that cover just health or welfare, but we can accept a ‘combined’ power of attorney that covers health, welfare, finances and property.

All types of power of attorney must have a witness signature.

You’ll need to check that your power of attorney is registered, if it needs to be

If you have a registered enduring or lasting power of attorney, there should be markings on your original document – like a seal or registration stickers or perforations and a registration number. The relevant government body will also issue you with a certificate of registration.

If you have a registered continuing power of attorney, the original document won’t have any registration markings, but again the relevant government body will issue you with a certificate of registration.

If you have a general or ordinary power of attorney, it doesn’t need to be registered.

You can also check with the right government body:

• For powers of attorney registered in England or Wales, contact the Office of the Public Guardian.
   
• For powers of attorney registered in Scotland, contact the Office of the Public Guardian of Scotland.
   
• For powers of attorney registered in Northern Ireland, contact the Office of Care and Protection.

You'll need to send us a few documents so we can check your power of attorney

To verify a power of attorney, you need to send us:

If you're sending us a copy it needs to be certified in a particular way

If you would prefer to send us a copy of the power of attorney, instead of the original, it must be certified in a particular way.

The person who created the power of attorney can certify it (if they're capable of making their own decisions).

A UK solicitor or notary public can also certify it. They may charge you for this.

Stockbrokers can also certify the pages of most types of power of attorney, but not a lasting power of attorney. Again, they may charge you.

Every page needs to have:

• The words: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the [type] power of attorney”. So, if it was a copy of a lasting power of attorney, you’d write: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney”. It can be either written or stamped.

• The name of the person certifying the copy.

• The signature of the person certifying the copy.

• The date when the document was certified.
  

We can't accept digital copies.

If your power of attorney was set up outside the UK

If you have a power of attorney that has been created in a country outside the UK, you need to legalise it in the country where it was created before you can use it in the UK.

The process for legalising the power of attorney will differ, it depends on the country where it was created.

You should talk to a solicitor for advice.

You can find one in your area through one of a number of legal bodies:

• Search for a solicitor through the Law Society (for England and Wales)
   
• Search for a solicitor through the Law Society of Scotland
   
• Search for a solicitor through the Law Society of Northern Ireland
  

These services are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Where to send your documents

Send your documents to:

Prudential
Lancing
BN15 8GB

We’ll take good care of your original documents or copies. And if you send them to us by special delivery or recorded delivery, we’ll send it back the same way.

You won't be able to use your power of attorney with us until we've checked it

Until we verify the power of attorney document and your identity as the attorney. You can't make any changes. Such as changes to postal address for letters, bank details or income amounts.

Also, we won't send any letters to the addresses we have on file. We'll hold them until the power of attorney is verified and you've told us what address to send them to.

If the customer is in a care home, we'll need to take that address too. We won't send any important letters relating to the policy to the care home, unless you ask us to.

What you need to do

Get in touch

If you have any questions about power of attorney, and to check your details and the details of the attorney(s), get in touch.

When you call, we’ll ask you to confirm your details, as well as the details of the customer who has a policy with us.