The following information is relevant to AA Personal Loans, AA Credit Cards, AA Mortgages, or AA Savings products, provided by Bank of Ireland UK. Any references to 'we', 'us' or 'our' refer to Bank of Ireland UK.
Sometimes you might need someone else – a spouse, partner, family member or solicitor – to look after things like your finances for you. There are several ways this can be arranged, depending on how long you need help and what you need help for.
Third Party Arrangement / Letter of Authority
What is it?
Short term help if, for example, you're unwell or travelling. In this case, you may allow your spouse, partner, a family member, or a solicitor to have temporary access to your accounts.
How do you do it?
Send us a letter to confirm who you'd like to appoint – they must be 18 or over. Tell us what you want them to do and for how long. Please contact us, to find out more.
Please be aware. Someone else can't usually make changes to your account, arrange an overdraft or open or close an account for you.
Power of Attorney & Court Orders – If you live in Northern Ireland
Enduring Power of Attorney
What is it?
Long term help if you'd like one or more attorneys to run your financial affairs. Your attorney will be able to act on your behalf now and also in the future if you can't. You can add in the Enduring Power of Attorney that it should only be used in the future where it becomes necessary.
How do you do it?
Set up an Enduring Power of Attorney with the help of a Solicitor.
Be aware: Your attorney may act on your behalf as soon as the Enduring Power of Attorney is created unless you state otherwise in the Enduring Power of Attorney.
If you lose the ability to manage your affairs, your attorney will need to register your Enduring Power of Attorney with the Office of Care and Protection so they can continue to act for you.
Controllership (Northern Ireland)
What is it?
Long term help if you're no longer able to make decisions for yourself and haven't appointed an attorney. This allows a controller, who will look after things like your finances, to be appointed for you by a court.
How do you do it?
Your controller will need to make an application to the Office of Care and Protection. The appointment will be made by court order.
Be aware. There are rules about what a controller can do.
Power of Attorney & Court Orders – If you live in England
Lasting Power of Attorney
What is it?
Long term help if you need to allow one or more people, known as 'attorneys', to make decisions for you, you can apply for a property and financial affairs Lasting Power of Attorney.
How do you do it?
Set up a Lasting Power of Attorney and register it with the Office of the Public Guardian. You can do this yourself or with the help of a Solicitor.
Be aware. You must be 18 or over and have the capacity to manage your own affairs when you set up your Lasting Power of Attorney.
Enduring Power of Attorney
What is it?
Long term help to allow one or more people, known as 'attorneys', to make decisions for you.
How do you do it?
Since October 2007, you can't create a new Enduring Power of Attorney but, if you set one up before then, you can still use it. Find out more at the Office of the Public Guardian.
Be aware. You must have been 18 or over and been able to manage your own affairs when you set up your Enduring Power of Attorney. Your attorney may act on your behalf as soon as the Enduring Power of Attorney is created unless you have stated otherwise within the Enduring Power of Attorney document.
Your attorneys should also be aware that it is their responsibility to register the Enduring Power of Attorney should you lose the ability to manage your affairs yourself.
Deputyship Order
What is it?
Long term help if you're no longer able to make decisions for yourself and haven't appointed an attorney. This allows a deputy, who will look after things like your finances, to be appointed for you by a court.
How do you do it?
Your deputy – usually a close relative, friend or carer – should apply to the Court of Protection.
Be aware. There are rules about how and what a deputy can do and who they can be.
Power of Attorney & Court Orders – If you live in Scotland
Continuing or Combined Power of Attorney
What is it?
Long term help if you need to allow one or more people, known as 'attorneys', to make decisions for you, you can apply for a property and financial affairs Lasting Power of Attorney.
How do you do it?
Set up a Continuing or Combined Power of Attorney and register it with the Office of the Public Guardian. You can do this yourself or with the help of a Solicitor.
Be aware. You must be over 16, not in financial difficulty and have the ability to manage your own affairs when you make your Continuing or Combined Power of Attorney.
Your attorney may act on your behalf as soon as the Continuing or Combined Power of Attorney is created unless you specify otherwise. Find out more at the Office of the Public Guardian.
Guardianship Order
What is it?
Long term help if you're no longer able to make decisions for yourself and haven't appointed an attorney. This allows a guardian, who will look after things like your finances, to be appointed for you by a court.
How do you do it?
Your guardian – someone over 16 years old, usually a close relative, friend or carer, solicitor or the Chief Social Worker of the local authority will need to make an application to the Court of Protection.
Be aware. There are rules about how and what a guardian can do and who they can be. Find out more at the Office of the Public Guardian.
How to add an Attorney(s) or Controller(s) on an account
If you want to add an Attorney or Controller on your own account, or if your representative wants to add their appointment on the account, please complete this form and return it to us at:
Freepost AA SAVINGS
You'll need to include the following:
- The original or a certified copy of the Attorney document or Controller – we can certify that your copies are authentic, for free.
- Two forms of identification for your nominated person – one to verify name and one to verify address.
Or you can call us and we'll confirm what you need to send.
Useful contacts
The following websites provide more information about powers of attorney. You can also get advice from your local Citizens Advice office or a solicitor.
- Dementia UK www.dementia.org
- Age UK www.AgeUK.org.uk
- Alzheimer's Society www.alzheimers.org.uk
- NHS www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about/
- The Law Society
- The Law Society of Northern Ireland www.lawsoc-ni.org/
- The Law Society www.lawsociety.org.uk/
- Law Society of Scotland www.lawscot.org.uk/
- Office of Care and Protection Northern Ireland
- Office of Public Guardian